Environment Ministry Threatens to Suspend Hotel-Restaurant Permits if Waste Management is Neglected
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH) is threatening to suspend tourism business permits in Badung Regency, Bali, for those violating waste management rules. A total of 401 hotel, restaurant, and cafe (Horeka) businesses are now under strict supervision.
Director of Environmental Complaints and Supervision for the Environment Gakkum KLH, Ardyanto Nugroho, has urged hotel and restaurant operators not to neglect independent waste management. Ardyanto stated that this is regulated under Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management.
“We will certainly impose forced administrative sanctions by the government and will no longer issue written warnings. If our recommendations are ignored, there are two options: we suspend the permits or impose Article 114 of Law No. 32 of 2009, with a one-year prison sentence,” said Ardyanto during a coordination meeting on waste processing with hotel, restaurant, and cafe operators at Puspem Badung on Thursday (7/5/2025).
Based on data, the Horeka sector contributes 41 percent of organic waste in Bali. The government has given a three-month deadline for businesses to improve their independent waste management systems in accordance with regulatory mandates.
“Each Horeka has no more than three months to rectify according to the violation points in the administrative sanctions. We will not back down an inch because this is the President’s order and there is an MOU between the Environment Minister and the National Police Chief for law enforcement,” explained Ardyanto.
KLH also highlighted the poor waste governance that could disrupt Bali’s tourism sector. Ardyanto explained that supervision will be carried out collaboratively with provincial and district/city Environment and Forestry Offices.
“If the administrative sanction decision supervision is still not complied with, we will issue a warning letter before finally suspending permits or imposing criminal threats. It’s a pity for our regency heads if the 100 percent non-compliance rate doesn’t budge, whereas managing organic waste is actually very easy,” concluded Ardyanto.
Previously, Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa revealed that nearly half of the total waste generated in Badung comes from the hotel, restaurant, and cafe (Horeka) sector. Adi Arnawa criticised the very low rate of independent waste processing by Horeka entrepreneurs in Badung.
“I emphasise that all hotels, restaurants, and cafes must carry out sorting at source and organic waste is prohibited from being disposed of at landfills because it must be processed at each respective location. Entrepreneurs are also required to reduce single-use plastics and have a clear and verified waste management system,” said Adi Arnawa.