Indonesias Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, conducted an unscheduled inspection at Balis largest landfill, TPA Suwung in Denpasar. This inspection is part of a broader initiative planned for 2025, in which experts will inspect 306 landfills across Indonesia to regulate waste management, improve environmental conditions, and prevent pollution. The first visit proved effective, as several major violations were immediately discovered at the Denpasar landfill.
During the inspection, it was revealed that the landfills management at TPA Suwung was not treating leachate (liquid waste) according to proper procedures. Even more concerning, inspectors found bypass channels that allowed untreated leachate to be directly discharged into the ocean, potentially causing severe pollution in Benoa Bay. Laboratory tests of leachate and seawater samples confirmed significant deviations from acceptable biochemical standards.
Additionally, aerial drone surveys showed that the landfills mismanagement had already caused significant damage to local vegetation. The contaminated leachate flow had led to the death of mangrove trees, affecting an area of 3.8 hectares.
Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection, Rizal Irawan, vowed that those responsible for these environmental violations would be held accountable. The maximum penalty for such offenses includes up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 10 billion rupiah. He also emphasized that his team would continue to monitor this landfill closely.
Previously, the Ministry of Environment announced plans to shut down 306 final waste processing sites (TPA) across Indonesia, as they rely on open disposal systems that are considered hazardous to the environment. TPA Suwung in Denpasar is one of these landfills. Authorities had already planned to close it three years ago before the G20 summit, but the lack of alternative solutions prevented this. Waste processing plants intended to replace the landfill proved insufficiently effective.
Currently, TPA Suwung covers an area of 32.46 hectares, with waste piles reaching up to 35 meters above sea level. It still operates using an open waste disposal method, which has been banned on the island since 2008 due to its environmental risks.
Authorities continue to explore alternative waste management solutions, including the possibility of converting waste into electricity using environmentally friendly technology. Chinese investors have already invested in this project, and according to the Minister of Environment, progress is being made. He remains hopeful that by 2026, the landfill in Denpasar can be permanently closed.
Sources: Balipuspa news, NusaBali.
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