{"id":148006,"date":"2022-06-09T14:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T06:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/bali\/?p=148006"},"modified":"2026-04-06T16:51:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:51:24","slug":"bali-plastic-bag-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/bali\/bali-plastic-bag-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot News: Bali is finally re-instating the ban on single-use plastic, with the aim of being plastic-free by the end of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think of Bali and no doubt picture-perfect visions of white sand beaches<\/a>, hidden waterfalls<\/a> and breathtaking landscapes spring to mind – and rightly so. But let\u2019s be real here. For decades now, Bali has been fighting an ever-growing environmental crisis that\u2019s littering our paradise island. We\u2019re talking about plastic.<\/p>\n

Ever since plastic was introduced to Bali without the necessary education and recycling facilities, plastic has been finding its way onto our beaches, into our waterways and even into our food. But that\u2019s about to change. The river warriors at Sungai Watch<\/a> have reported that by the end of 2022, Bali will finally ban single-use plastic<\/strong>. This comes ahead of the 2022 G20 Summit in Bali, with Bali’s Provincial Government revealing their action plan to eliminate and ban single-use plastics on the island.<\/p>\n

So how – and why – has this come into effect? Well, way back in December 2018, Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, announced a ban on single-use plastic by June 2019, with a six month “warm up” period to give businesses time to react. The bill was officially instated, and for a blissful moment, dreaded styrofoam, plastic bags and plastic straws were prohibited island-wide. But of course, then the pandemic hit, and all plans went out the window as single-use plastics once again infiltrated the community for health, safety and hygiene reasons.<\/p>\n

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This photo from @thelifeofjord went viral back in 2019, right before the initial plastic ban came into effect<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thankfully, the peak of the pandemic has now passed and environmental issues are resurfacing. So, on May 24th and 27th 2022, the Bali Provincial Environmental Department (DKLH Bali) invited regency level government, police, civil society organisations and SMEs working in waste management to discuss implementation of the Governor\u2019s regulation which bans the production, distribution and provision of single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene. This regulation is referred to as Pergub #97 2018, Pembatasan Timbulan Sampah Plastik Sekali Pakai (PSP).<\/p>\n

Jane Fischer of Bali Waste Platform<\/a> said: “The Pergub #97 2018 has actually been in effect since mid-2019, however, the pandemic caused setbacks in the province-wide implementation. The recent meetings in May were co-facilitated by DKLH Bali and Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia<\/a>, which included explanations by DKLH on the variable alternatives, and a presentation by Kopernik<\/a> on the false solution alternatives, which are also banned. Much discussion was given to regency-level strategies to implement part or all of the ban in their respective regencies as soon as possible<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Finally then, it seems that Bali’s ban on single-use plastic is one again getting back on track. And this couldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of local organisations, activists and eco-warriors on-the-ground here in Bali and greater Indonesia. Just some of these warriors include:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc9a Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Bali Waste Platform<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Diet Kantong Plastik<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a PPLH<\/a> (The Environmental Education Centre)
\n\ud83d\udc9a Merah Putih Hijau<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Eco Bali Recycling<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Trash Hero Indonesia<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Zero Waste Indonesia<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Kopernik<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Griya Luhu<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Bye Bye Plastic Bags<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc9a Sungai Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sungai Watch team have said: \u201cWe dream of a Bali without plastic and where every river is plastic-free. This is a great first step and we hope that this law will come into effect and will be properly enforced by authorities<\/em>\u201d. Well, we couldn\u2019t agree more.<\/p>\n

Fighting for change: Bali’s plastic past<\/h3>\n