Empty Land in Kerobokan Kelod Becomes Illegal Dump Site, Rubbish Piles Up

An empty plot of land along Jalan Merta Agung, Banjar Pengubengan Kauh, Kerobokan Kelod Village, North Kuta, Badung, Bali, has become a squalid sight due to piles of illegal rubbish. Observations at the site revealed scattered plastic waste, food remnants, and construction debris strewn haphazardly, even spilling over to the roadside. The stench of rotting matter also permeated the air strongly. In essence, the existence of this illegal waste disposal site (TPS) is tarnishing the aesthetics of the Kerobokan Kelod area, which is frequently traversed by foreign tourists. The situation has worsened amid restrictions on the Suwung landfill’s acceptance of organic waste. Kerobokan Kelod Village Head, I Made Wistawan, stated that the empty land, reportedly intended for residential subdivision, has been in a state of disrepair for the past two months. Since then, village officials have been trying to track down the landowner, suspected to have been purchased by a foreigner, in order to urge attention to the property. However, over time, the vacant land, initially occupied by leftover construction materials, has gradually been filled with bags of various types of rubbish. This condition was then exploited by certain residents to dispose of their waste, leading to accumulation that went viral on social media. Its location along the roadside with fairly heavy traffic, he said, also makes it easy for passers-by to dump rubbish directly while driving past. “Perhaps it’s an opportunity, with the ease of dumping there because they see the chance with the construction debris present. I’ve been pursuing the landowner to this day but still don’t know who it is, as the information suggests it’s owned by locals in partnership with foreigners,” said Wistawan on Wednesday (1/4/2026). Wistawan wants the landowner to promptly fence the property or install barriers. Because, he suspects, the initial state of neglect on the land is actually inviting anyone to litter indiscriminately there. “That’s why if it’s not fenced, at least they should look after their land and maintain it. For now, we will install barriers, whether lines or prohibition signs against dumping rubbish there,” said Wistawan. Officers from the Badung Environmental and Cleanliness Service (DLHK) were immediately deployed to cart away the piles of non-organic waste using trucks. Wistawan acknowledged that the village is now beginning to devise a strategy for tight surveillance to ensure the area does not become a target for illegal dumping again. “Our thinking is that the most effective measure might be installing CCTV so we can identify the dumpers, the vehicle licence plates used. With detection of the licence plates and the time of the incident, we can summon the perpetrators to create a deterrent effect,” he concluded.