The future has arrived on the beach in front of Finns Beach Club in Canggu. Every morning at dawn, a robot comes out to clean the sand of debris. It looks like a mini-tractor and moves along the shoreline. The smart machine, named BeBot, collects what is left behind by visitors: cigarette butts, plastic caps, glass shards, wrappers, and other waste. It does this silently and without harming the environment, as it operates on solar power.
BeBot is an autonomous robot from the French company Searial Cleaners. It levels the surface of the beach, sifts sand up to a depth of 10 cm, and even retrieves microscopic plastic particles that cannot be collected manually. According to the manufacturer, the machine is gentle on plants, animals, and the sand itself, preserving the beach's ecosystem. It also sends signals about its presence for additional safety.
The sustainable development manager of Finns Bali, Abdul Manaf, stated that the robot will clean the area in front of the club and the territory near the Pura Perancak temple daily.
"We want to set an example. We hope other businesses in tourism will join in and start caring for the environment," he added.
The robot can work for up to three hours without recharging, but cleaning usually takes about 2.5 hours, depending on the weather and tides.
This BeBot is the first in Canggu, but not the first in Bali. In November 2024, the Hyatt Regency Bali and Andaz Bali hotels deployed a similar model on Sanur Beach.
It is possible that other hotels on the island will follow their example, as the shift towards more environmentally friendly waste management is becoming a priority, including for businesses. Bali Governor Wayan Koster recently reminded tourism companies that they must create their own waste management systems. If a business fails to address the issue, it could lose its license. Meanwhile, the authorities intend to encourage those who genuinely care about the environment, not just post "green" slogans on websites.
Tourists are also encouraged to join in saving Bali from waste: reduce the use of plastic, use reusable water bottles, sort trash, and always dispose of it in a bin or tank.
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