BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – The Badung Environmental and Sanitation Agency (DLHK Badung) has intensified its response to seasonal marine waste along Kuta Beach and surrounding coastal areas, following public attention from Indonesia’s president over the issue.
DLHK Badung officials said the concern was understandable given Bali’s position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and its significant contribution to the national economy. According to the agency, coastal cleanliness is a top priority for Badung, where beaches play a central role in supporting tourism and local livelihoods.
Head of Cleanliness and Hazardous Waste Management at DLHK Badung, Anak Agung Dalem, said marine debris is a recurring seasonal issue linked to the west monsoon period, which typically runs from September to March.
“For Badung, beaches are essentially the backbone of tourism. Marine waste is a seasonal phenomenon that occurs during the west monsoon,” he said on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).
He explained that most marine debris originates from densely populated areas outside Bali, particularly from Java and Sumatra, where waste carried by rivers eventually reaches the sea before being transported by ocean currents to Bali’s southern coastline. Affected areas include Kuta, Jimbaran, and Kedonganan.
To address the situation, DLHK Badung has deployed 12 units of heavy equipment along the beaches. Cleanup operations are carried out immediately once marine debris appears, involving collection, removal, and transportation away from coastal zones.
During a single monsoon season, Badung can remove up to 1,500 tons of marine waste from temporary disposal sites. Officials estimate that around 3,000 tons of waste still need to be handled this season, with volumes expected to increase until March. On average, Bali receives between 4,000 and 7,000 tons of marine debris each year, with the highest recorded volume occurring in 2021.
Daily cleanup operations involve between 300 and 350 field personnel, with capacity to increase to up to 800 workers during extreme conditions. These efforts are supported through collaboration with non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, hotels, private companies, and security forces.
DLHK Badung also highlighted the importance of long-term, integrated waste management solutions. The development of waste-to-energy facilities is seen as a key strategy to process marine debris while reducing pressure on landfills.
“Household waste management is equally important. Waste should be sorted at the source, organic waste composted, and recyclable materials sent to waste banks. Only residual waste should go to landfills,” Anak Agung Dalem said.
Currently, marine waste collected along Badung’s beaches consists of approximately 70 percent organic material, primarily driftwood, and 30 percent plastic. Organic waste is processed using wood chippers for compost and landfilling material, while recyclable plastics are managed in cooperation with environmental organizations. Remaining waste is transported to final disposal sites.