Sofia Martinez
Bali has long been associated with plastic waste on its beaches, and the Indonesian island has been taking steps to address this issue. Single-use plastics, including plastic bags, have been banned in Bali since 2019, with the aim of being plastic-free by the end of 2022. While the ban has helped reduce plastic waste on the island, it has not eliminated the problem entirely. Local organisations, activists, and eco-warriors have been working tirelessly to educate and raise awareness about the impact of plastic on the environment, with the ultimate goal of eradicating the issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are plastic bags banned in Bali? | Yes, single-use plastic bags are banned in Bali. |
| Who is responsible for the ban? | The ban is largely credited to the work of two sisters, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, who founded the grassroots movement Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB). |
| When was the ban implemented? | The ban was announced in December 2018 and came into effect in June 2019. |
| What is the aim of the ban? | The aim is to reduce plastic waste and clean up Bali's beaches and top tourism resorts by 2027. |
| Has the ban been successful? | The ban has helped to reduce the volume of plastic waste generated on the island, but it is not always 100% successful. |
| Are there any concerns about the ban? | There are concerns about the impact on businesses and communities, especially the banning of small plastic bottles, which are common but also necessary for some traditional activities. |
| What is being done to address these concerns? | There is an ongoing education effort to help Indonesians and tourists understand their impact on the environment, and businesses are being encouraged to create their own waste management protocols. |
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What You'll Learn
Single-use plastic bags were banned in Bali in 2019
Bali has long been associated with plastic waste on its beaches, with the Indonesian island producing roughly 1.6 million tonnes of waste each year, 330,000 tonnes of which is plastic waste. In 2019, single-use plastic bags were banned across the island, with the hope that this would reduce the volume of plastic waste generated.
The ban was the result of sustained pressure from two powerful young women, sisters Melati and Isabel Wijsen, who grew up witnessing the spread of plastic pollution on the island. In 2017, they threatened a hunger strike, capturing the attention of Bali's governor, who agreed to meet with them. They founded the grassroots movement Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB), a campaign powered by youth to say no to plastic bags. The movement has since expanded to over 50 teams worldwide, with the sisters speaking at international events and conferences, and distributing educational materials to schools.
The single-use plastic bag ban was announced by Bali Governor Wayan Koster in December 2018, with a six-month "warm-up" period to allow businesses to adjust. As of June 23, 2019, the ban officially came into effect, prohibiting the use of plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene across the island. The ban was a significant step in Bali's war against single-use plastics and was hoped to have a domino effect across the country.
While the ban has helped reduce plastic waste, it has not eliminated all plastic bags from the island. The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted the implementation of the ban, as single-use plastics infiltrated the community once again for health, safety, and hygiene reasons. Bali is now working towards reinstating the ban, with the aim of being plastic-free by the end of 2022.
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The ban was lifted during the pandemic
Bali, an Indonesian island, has been struggling with plastic waste on its beaches, rivers, and in its waters. In 2017, the local government declared a 'Garbage Emergency'. Two sisters from Bali, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, started a grassroots movement called Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB) to ban single-use plastic bags. Their efforts led to the Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, announcing a ban on single-use plastics in December 2018, with a six-month "warm-up" period for businesses to adjust.
The ban was officially instated in June 2019, prohibiting single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam across the island. However, with the onset of the pandemic, the ban was lifted as single-use plastics made their way back into communities for health, safety, and hygiene reasons.
During the pandemic, the focus shifted from environmental concerns to managing the health crisis. Single-use plastics were seen as a necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the virus, and the use of plastic bags, gloves, and other disposable items increased significantly. The pandemic disrupted the momentum of the plastic bag ban in Bali, and the plans for a plastic-free island were temporarily halted.
However, as the peak of the pandemic passed, environmental issues regained attention. In May 2022, the Bali Provincial Environmental Department (DKLH Bali) convened meetings with various stakeholders, including government representatives, police, civil society organizations, and waste management experts, to discuss the implementation of the Governor's regulation. These meetings signaled a renewed effort to tackle single-use plastics in Bali and get the ban back on track.
The tireless work of local organizations, activists, and eco-warriors played a crucial role in pushing for the reinstatement of the ban. Groups like Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia, Diet Kantong Plastik, Eco Bali Recycling, and, of course, Bye Bye Plastic Bags, advocated for a plastic-free Bali. Their efforts, combined with the support of the Balinese government, led to the announcement that Bali would once again ban single-use plastics, aiming to be plastic-free by the end of 2022.
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The ban was reinstated in 2022
Bali, an Indonesian island, has long been associated with plastic waste on its beaches. In 2017, the local government declared a 'Garbage Emergency', and the following year, Governor Wayan Koster announced a ban on single-use plastic by June 2019. The bill was officially instated, but the pandemic hit, and single-use plastics infiltrated the community once more for health and safety reasons.
However, in 2022, the Bali Provincial Environmental Department (DKLH Bali) invited government, police, civil society organisations, and waste management SMEs to discuss implementing the Governor's regulation. The ban on single-use plastics was reinstated, with the aim of being plastic-free by the end of 2022. This was due in large part to the tireless work of local organisations, activists, and eco-warriors, including the Bye Bye Plastic Bags movement, founded by two Balinese sisters, Melati and Isabel Wijsen.
The movement, powered by youth around the world, has helped to empower the youth of Bali to take action against plastic use in their community. The sisters have also travelled the world, speaking at international Ted Talks, UN conferences, and meetings with government leaders, raising awareness and providing education about the issue.
The Bali Waste Clean-Up Movement formally came into effect on April 11, 2025, with new legislation stipulating that businesses, especially those in tourism, must take greater responsibility for their waste management. While this is a positive step, there are concerns about the impact on businesses and communities that may not be prepared or well-resourced enough to adapt to the changes.
The ban on single-use plastics in Bali is not always 100% successful, but there is an ongoing education effort to help Indonesians and tourists understand their impact on the environment.
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The ban was spearheaded by two Balinese sisters
The Indonesian island of Bali has been struggling with plastic waste on its beaches, with an estimated 300,000 tonnes of the 1.6 million tonnes of waste generated annually being plastic. In response to this growing environmental crisis, Bali banned single-use plastics in 2022, with the ultimate goal of eliminating plastic waste entirely.
One of the sisters, Melati, described her deep love for the environment and the urgency she felt to protect it: "Change is happening too slowly. Why does it take six years to ban a single-use plastic bag?". In 2013, they started a petition to make Bali plastic-bag-free, and within 24 hours, they had 6,000 signatures from people around the world. In 2017, the sisters even threatened a hunger strike, capturing the attention of Bali's governor. He signed an order banning plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam on the island, which went into effect in 2019 after sustained pressure from the sisters and their supporters.
The impact of Melati and Isabel's work has been felt internationally. They have spoken at international Ted Talks, government meetings, and United Nations conferences. They have also distributed thousands of educational booklets to schools worldwide, inspiring young people to take action against plastic pollution in their communities.
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The ban has reduced plastic waste on the island
Bali has long been associated with plastic waste on its beaches. In 2017, the local government declared a 'Garbage Emergency'. The following year, Governor Wayan Koster announced a ban on single-use plastic by June 2019, which included plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam. The pandemic delayed the implementation of this ban, but it was reinstated in May 2022, with the aim of being plastic-free by the end of that year.
The ban on single-use plastics has not eliminated all plastic waste on the island, but it has helped to reduce the volume. This is in part thanks to the tireless work of local organisations, activists, and eco-warriors, including Bye Bye Plastic Bags, a grassroots movement founded by two Balinese sisters, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, who have been campaigning since 2013.
The movement focuses on education and awareness, with the sisters taking their campaign to international stages, such as TED Talks and the United Nations, and distributing educational booklets to schools. They have also inspired similar teams across the globe.
In addition to the work of these activists, local volunteers and professional organisations, such as FINNS, regularly clean the beaches to ensure that tourists can enjoy the island without having to endure rubbish.
While the ban on single-use plastics has helped to reduce plastic waste on the island, it is important to note that Bali still produces a significant amount of waste each year, and due to a failure in waste management, much of it goes uncollected, ending up in the island's rivers. However, it is clear that the ban, combined with the efforts of activists and volunteers, has contributed to a reduction in plastic waste on the island.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as of June 23, 2019, single-use plastic bags have been banned in Bali.
The plastic bag ban in Bali was a result of the efforts of two sisters, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, who founded the grassroots movement Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB) in 2013. They have since spoken at international Ted Talks, UN conferences, and have been recognised on CNN and Forbes' Top 10 Most Inspiring Women list.
The plastic bag ban in Bali has helped reduce the volume of plastic waste generated on the island. However, it has not eliminated all plastic bags, and there are ongoing education efforts to help Indonesians and tourists understand their impact on the environment.
In addition to Bye Bye Plastic Bags, other organisations such as Sungai Watch, Eco Bali Recycling, Zero Waste Indonesia, and Trash Hero Indonesia are working to reduce plastic waste in Bali.
There have been concerns raised about the impact of the ban on small plastic bottles, which are commonly used during traditional activities. There are also worries that businesses and communities across Bali may not be prepared or well-resourced enough to facilitate the changes, and that more research is needed before strict implementation.
