BNEWSID – The Indonesian central government and the Bali Provincial Administration have confirmed that the Suwung Landfill (TPA Suwung) will be permanently closed starting March 1, 2026, as part of a major waste management transformation on the island.

The decision was announced during a coordination meeting attended by Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Bali Governor Wayan Koster, and regional leaders from Denpasar, Badung, and Bangli in Denpasar on Monday (December 29).

During the transition period, a portion of waste generated in Denpasar and Badung will be redirected to the Bangli Landfill (TPA Bangli) located in Landih Village. The closure of TPA Suwung is necessary as the site is set to be redeveloped into a waste-to-energy (WtE) facility, which is targeted to begin operations in 2027.

Minister Hanif emphasized that Bali has a limited window to prepare Bangli as a temporary disposal site.

“The Bali Provincial Government only has about two months to upgrade the Bangli landfill so it can function temporarily. Starting March 1, 2026, waste that cannot be managed by Denpasar and Badung may be transported there,” he said.

He acknowledged that transporting waste to Bangli would involve higher operational costs due to the longer distance. However, the move is considered unavoidable while awaiting the completion of the new waste processing facility in Suwung.

At the same time, local governments in Denpasar and Badung are urged to strengthen waste management at the source, including through TPS3R, integrated waste treatment facilities (TPST), and early-stage waste sorting.

Quoted by ANTARA, Governor Wayan Koster stated that the use of TPA Bangli is legally supported by regional regulations that allow inter-district cooperation. Nevertheless, he warned that Bangli’s landfill capacity is limited and cannot accommodate all waste from outside its region.

For that reason, Koster stressed that each regency and city must continue prioritizing waste solutions within their own territories. He underlined that TPA Bangli will serve only as a last-resort option for residual waste that cannot be managed locally. (*)