BANGLI, DEWATA.NEWS – Organizers of the myBCA BTR Ultra 2026 trail running event in Bali partnered with environmental group ACS Bali Foundation to manage and process waste generated during the international competition, preventing large volumes of trash from ending up in local landfills.
The annual Batur Trail Run (BTR) Ultra event, held from May 15 to 17, 2026, in the Kintamani area, attracted 5,916 runners from 62 countries, marking a 47 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Amara Cinta Semesta (ACS) Bali Foundation participated as the official waste management partner during the three-day event, overseeing cleanup operations and waste sorting across the race area.
ACS Co-founder I Gusti Bagus Dharma Santhika said the initiative was motivated by Bali’s ongoing landfill crisis and growing concerns over waste management capacity on the island.
“In the middle of Bali’s landfill crisis and limited waste processing capacity, we wanted to help minimize waste responsibly and contribute to preserving the environment in Batur, especially from the threat of plastic waste,” he said on Monday, May 18, 2026.
To support the operation, ACS deployed approximately 15 staff members and volunteers who collected waste from water stations throughout the race routes before transporting it to a temporary collection area behind the main event stage.
According to ACS, nearly three dump trucks of waste were collected during the event, with an estimated total weight ranging from three to nine tons.
Most of the waste consisted of PET plastic bottles, low-value plastics, and tissue residue, while organic food waste accounted for only around 10 percent of the total volume.
The collected waste was later transported to ACS facilities in Padang Galak, Sanur, where it was sorted and processed into products including animal feed, organic fertilizer, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and recycled materials for factories.
“Low-value residual waste is processed into RDF and also through incineration,” Dharma Santhika explained.
ACS confirmed that all cleanup and waste processing activities had been completed following the conclusion of the race event.
The BTR Ultra became the third major public event handled by ACS after previous waste management operations at Pica Fest and Kemala Run.
This year’s BTR Ultra returned to Batur Natural Hot Spring in Kintamani as the main race venue. The routes crossed 12 villages in Kintamani and three villages in Karangasem Regency, including sections of the UNESCO-recognized Batur Geopark area.
Participants ran through volcanic black lava fields, Mount Batur, pine forests, sand landscapes, and mountain trails, while longer race categories also included Mount Abang and Mount Agung, Bali’s highest volcano.
Race and Project Director I Putu Agus Darmayuda said environmental sustainability had become a major focus of the 2026 event, particularly regarding waste management.
“We realize that every large event generates significant waste. As part of our concern for environmental preservation, we are committed to ensuring that waste from this event does not end up at temporary disposal sites,” he said.
Organizers said the collaboration with ACS Bali Foundation was expected to increase public awareness about responsible waste management during large-scale tourism and sports events in Bali.