It’s my first time in Bali and I have fallen totally in love. With the beaches, the beautiful coral reefs, the rice fields, the mountains, the small villages, the temples and the always happy and friendly people.

There is just one thing which makes me very sad. It’s the waste which is everywhere and the common behavior of throwing waste in the environment, the rivers and the sea. Everything I love about Bali is in big danger if nobody is going to stop it and everybody must change their ways to save the island and its future.

Recently I visited the self-sustaining Waste Management Facility located in the village of Temesi near Gianyar. It was really interesting and I think a good step in the right direction.

The project started in 2004 as a cooperation between Rotary Club of Ubud, the village of Temesi and the local government of Gianyar. It started as a pilot project with a capacity of 3 tons of waste per day. In 2010 it was expanded and the capacity increased to 60 tons/day under the 4760m² roof. Of the delivered waste, 90% is recycled and only 10% is unusable and is dumped on the adjacent landfill.

Unfortunately, they only collect 50% of the waste generated in the Gianyar area.

When the waste arrives at the plant, people separate plastic, glass, paper and organic material. Glass and paper can be reused, they sell the plastic to Java where are plants for melting it and producing new material.

The major point is the organic waste which goes through a long process to produce fertile earth which can be used and for any planting and cultivation of land use.

It is very important to build to lots of plants like thisin Bali. Everyone in Bali should collect waste and should be able to send it to a place like Temesi.

If you have any ideas for a project like this or if you want to help, please send me an Email to: felicitas.neunhoeffer@gmail.com