Schools in Bali Urged to Manage Waste Independently, Disdikpora: For Education
Schools in Bali are now required to address waste issues independently. Waste management is directed to be handled within each educational unit, with the hope that students will become accustomed to caring for the environment from an early age.
The Head of the Bali Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora), Ida Bagus Wesnawa Punia, emphasised that the policy is not intended to burden students. Wesnawa stated that the programme is linked to the Gerakan Indonesia ASRI (Safe, Healthy, Clean, Beautiful) movement.
“The aim is for schools to manage waste themselves. In schools, they manage it independently; this applies to all regions,” said Wesnawa when met by detikBali on Friday (10/4/2026).
Wesnawa explained that this programme has been in place long before the waste issues at the Suwung landfill arose. According to him, the programme has also been agreed upon by relevant stakeholders.
“We have gathered the Education Offices of regencies/cities across Bali, the Agriculture Office, Civil Registry, and the Social Office. Even before the Suwung landfill issue, we had prepared the Sekolah ASRI programme,” he added.
Wesnawa also responded to claims that students are being turned into waste collectors. He deemed such accusations inaccurate, as the main purpose of the programme is education.
“This is not about students becoming waste collectors. This is an introduction from an early age, from primary to high school, on how waste management is carried out,” he stressed.
The programme, he said, teaches students the basic steps of waste management. From sorting, shredding, to processing organic waste into fertiliser.
“So, they won’t be indifferent to the environment,” he concluded.
It is known that the Bali Disdikpora has issued Circular Letter (SE) Number B.10.400.3/13183/SEKRET/DIKPORA dated 6 March 2026 regarding the Gerakan Indonesia ASRI (Safe, Healthy, Clean, Beautiful) and school-based food sovereignty.
In the circular, schools are asked to routinely clean and tidy the school environment. In addition, schools are encouraged to regularly carry out weekly community work to realise a clean culture in educational environments.
Besides regulating cleanliness, the circular also covers strengthening school-based food independence programmes. For example, through direct practices of planting vegetables, fruits, and tubers.