Bali faces waste crisis amid tourism boom and government plans for high-end development

Bali is experiencing a significant waste crisis, exacerbated by the closure of its main landfill, Suwung, in April. This has led to rubbish accumulating in streets, beaches, and canals, with much of it being burned. Balinese writer Sugi Lanus noted the change in air quality from frangipani to burning plastic. While the landfill partially reopened for organic waste two days a week in June, the issue persists. Tourism to Bali reached nearly seven million visitors last year, with 1.6 million Australians, and the Indonesian government aims to attract more affluent tourists, envisioning Bali as the "Dubai of Southeast Asia." Made Suarnatha, founder of Wisnu Foundation, states that the waste crisis is a "political issue" intensified by the shift from organic to plastic waste due to tourism. Economist Putu Natih from Universitas Indonesia estimates that 40 percent of Bali's daily 3,436 tonnes of waste is burned or illegally dumped, attributing the problem to structural failures in collection and processing infrastructure. Environmental groups like Wahli Bali and student activists Frontier Bali protested in Denpasar on July 12, calling for a tourism moratorium until the waste crisis is addressed. Despite this, the government is focusing on boosting foreign investment, opening a special economic zone called Kura Kura Turtle Island with tax holidays for investors, aiming for luxury developments. Natih advises caution, emphasizing that investment should create value and employment, not