Foreign Media Suddenly Spotlights Bali, Citing Rubbish to Rats
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Foreign media has suddenly spotlighted Bali. This time, it’s the French-based AFP website.
The site published an article titled “Bali drowning in trash after landfill closed”. It reports how rubbish has piled up on the island, damaging its renowned beauty.
“Bali’s largest landfill has been off-limits for organic waste since early April, as the government seeks to enforce a longstanding ban on open dumpsites,” the website states, quoted on Thursday (30/4/2026).
“However, with no immediate alternatives provided, rubbish is piling up on streets and attracting rats, or being burned by frustrated residents, causing acrid smoke that raises health concerns,” it adds.
The report details how some business owners have used a small portion of their profits to pay private companies to clean rubbish near their stalls. It also mentions the odour from the waste deterring potential customers.
“Some customers, perhaps bothered by the smell, end up not buying,” AFP quotes a source named Yuvita, 34.
Complaints from tourists at Kuta Beach are also featured. It describes the popular tourist spot, which is regularly inundated with stranded plastic rubbish, with rubbish bags piled waist-high in the car park.
“There are lots of rats here at night. The smell is bad… the view isn’t nice,” the website quotes Australian visitor Justin Butcher.
Around seven million tourists visited Bali last year. This far exceeds the island’s native population of about 4.4 million.
Meanwhile, Bali’s Head of Civil Service Police, I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, provided a statement. He said government regulations on rubbish already exist, with those who dump or burn it risking up to three months in prison and a fine of Rp 50 million.
“The local government has also said it will allow limited waste disposal at Suwung as a temporary measure until the end of July,” he added.
“However, from August, the government has promised to end all open dumpsites nationwide, although it is unclear what alternatives will be available then,” he continued.
The ban on open waste disposal originates from Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management. The open dumping system must be stopped and replaced with safer systems such as sanitary landfills and controlled waste management.
The total ban was supposed to apply in 2013. However, its implementation has not been uniform.