Response to Suwung Landfill Closure: Putu Artha Claims Bali Is Under Excessive Pressure
Social and political observer I Gusti Putu Artha has raised concerns that Bali’s waste management problem has become excessively intertwined with political interests. He claims that Bali currently faces excessive pressure, particularly regarding plans for the permanent closure of the Suwung landfill in Denpasar.
Artha compared the conditions at Suwung landfill with the Bantargebang waste processing facility in Bekasi and the Kebon Kongok landfill in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. According to him, both of these landfills continue to accept residual waste and do not face similar pressure.
“Why is Bali the only one being pressed so hard to permanently close Suwung? Whilst the same situation at Kebon Kongok in Mataram does not face such pressure. Even now at Bantargebang from 1 August, residual waste is still allowed to enter,” said Artha following the Talk Show Malu Dong x Aliansi BEM se-Bali Dewata Dwipa titled Bali Waste Emergency: So What Actions Can We Take? held at Kelan Beach, Kuta, Badung, Bali, on Saturday evening (23 May 2026).
Artha suspected that the pressure on Suwung landfill compared to other regions was due to certain political interests. He also alluded to the involvement of PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID), which had previously requested that the Suwung area be cleaned up.
“This means from the beginning I suspected there was a political directive from a neighbouring party working on this. To keep this zone clean. Because the digital footprint had already occurred in 2023. At that time BTID held a press conference requesting the cleanup of Suwung,” he added.
Nevertheless, Artha believed that this pressure also brought positive consequences for Bali. It has prompted changes in community habits regarding waste management, including beginning to separate waste at household level.
“This benefits Bali so that habits and community practices begin to change and we continue to push in that direction,” added the former member of the Electoral Commission (KPU).
On the other hand, Artha cautioned that closing Suwung landfill without alternative solutions risks creating new problems. Particularly since the government has acknowledged it is not yet ready to close Suwung landfill by 31 August 2026 as it still requires an alternative landfill.
Artha hopes that the Environmental Minister will not close Suwung landfill until the Waste-to-Energy facility (PSEL) becomes fully operational. “If Bali is to remain clean in the meantime, we should wait for PSEL to function,” he concluded.