No Solution in Sight, TOSS Gelgel Forced to Burn Residual Waste to Reduce Odour
The Local Waste Processing Site (TOSS) Berseri in Gelgel Village, Klungkung, Bali, has been forced to burn piled-up residual waste that is causing a pungent odour. This measure has been in place since the delivery of residual waste to the TOSS Center in Karangdadi was halted in March.
“We have no choice. If we don’t burn it, the smell will disturb passers-by even more. So, we’re forced to burn it little by little like this,” said the Chairman of TOSS Berseri Gelgel Village, Hermawan, when met by detikBali on Thursday (7/5/2026).
Observations by detikBali at the site revealed that TOSS Berseri is located along the regency road towards the IB Mantra Bypass. In the residual waste area, an officer was seen burning the waste bit by bit as it began to pile up. The smoke from the burning was not too billowing. However, it occasionally drifted towards the main road carried by the wind.
According to Hermawan, the residual waste being burned is the result of three days of processing. Normally, it is less because the number of residents is not large.
“But today it’s quite a lot because it has been raining for the past few days. If we don’t burn it, the smell is overpowering. We’re afraid it will disturb the public,” he explained.
He further explained that after the Sente landfill was closed, TOSS Berseri was scheduled to dispose of residual waste twice a week. This was still very manageable for him, as it only receives a maximum of 500 kilograms (kg) of waste for processing per day.
However, now it’s like being caught in a dilemma, Hermawan doesn’t know what to do. Leaving it to pile up causes odour, burning it also produces smoke. Both have the potential to disturb the public.
“But so far, no one has complained. Because we are monitoring it closely. We don’t let the smoke get too big. And the burning is done little by little,” Hermawan clarified.
The Head of Gelgel Village, Sahidin, acknowledged the ongoing issues in waste management. Unsure where to dispose of the residual waste, like other villages, he too has resorted to burning.
“Indeed, there is a problem at the moment. For the past few months, residual waste has been burned. Similar to TOSS or TP3SR in other villages. This has been the case since the TOSS Center in Karangdadi was closed,” Sahidin explained.
He hopes that the regency government (Pemkab) will soon provide a solution to the problem. Before it leads to protests from the public.
“We, as the village government, hope that the regency government will quickly provide a solution to smoothen our waste processing operations at TOSS Berseri. Especially regarding the accumulation of residual waste,” he concluded.
Currently, the Klungkung Regency Government through the Environmental and Land Office (DLHP) Klungkung has established a partnership with a third party to maximise waste processing at the TOSS Center in Karangdadi.
A company from New Zealand has brought in a waste pyrolysis machine with a capacity of 8 tonnes per hour. The machine is expected to start operating this month.