Earlier this year, Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster implemented a controversial new policy banning single-use plastic in the province.
The new legislation strengthened existing legislation that was intended to help clean up the island once and for all.
As Governor Koster moves into the next phase of the operation to ban single-use plastic, tourists and the tourism sector have mixed feelings about the new policies.
Speaking to reporters in Bali’s top tourism resorts, many tourists backed Governor Koster’s policy of banning single-use plastics, especially bottles under one liter and water cups, from the island.
Surfer Diomar Romero, visiting Bali from Miami, told reporters of his support for a ban on plastics, citing his environmental concerns as the reason for his approval.
Romero told reporters, “I think it’s good. As a surfer, the first thing I see is trash in the water. A lot of the trash is small plastic bottles.” Speaking separately, Andrew Otiko, who is visiting Bali on a trip from the UK, shared support for the ban on both environmental and public health grounds. He shared, “Especially for health reasons, yes. Moreover, we know that now microplastics have been found in human blood and brain.”
This week, Governor Koster brought together stakeholders and representatives from the drinks industry to discuss the phasing out of single-use plastic bottles and plastic water cups on the island.
All of Indonesia’s major beverage companies, including Aqua, Cleo, Club, Balis, Yeh Buleleng, Ecoqua, Spring, Sosro, and Coca-Cola, attended the meeting. Representatives from the Indonesian Bottled Drinking Water Companies Association Center for Bali were also present.
Governor Koster told attendees during the meeting on Thursday, May 29th, more about his reasons for implementing the ban and why it was brought into effect so promptly as part of the Circluar Letter (SE) of the Governor of Bali Number 9 of 2025 concerning the Bali Clean Waste Movement.
Governor Koster explained, “This is to reduce the use of single-use plastic waste. I am firm about waste processing and limiting plastic waste, and it has even become a priority for the Ministry of Environment, where resolving the waste problem in Bali is fully supported.”
He confirmed that all remaining single-use water bottle products in circulation must cease distribution by December 2025. Governor Koster continued, “I ask that production be stopped. Only products that have [already been] produced until December 2025 can be used up, all of them, so there should be no more in January.”
Governor Koster shared, “Even the Ministry of Environment plans to move Environment Day to Bali. Bali will become a national model because of the pro-environmental policies that have been implemented here.”
He concluded “Bali is widely eyed by tourists because of its good ecosystem and culture; it this is damaged no one will come and people will not be able to invest.”
While attendees left Thursday’s meeting with a clearer sense of the plan moving forward, over the last few weeks key leaders in Bali have spoken up urging Governor Koster to reconsider the outright ban on single use plastics under one liter, noting that the implications of the ban impact both local communities and tourists.
In an interview with local reporters Dr. I Nyoman Subanda, an academic and public policy observer from the National Education University, Undiknas in Denpasar explained ” I agree with the Governor’s enthusiasm to reduce plastic waste.”
“However, this kind of policy must go through an in-depth study. It needs to be seen first, is it true that small drinking water packaging is the biggest contributor to waste? Or are there other types of plastic waste that are more dominant such as plastic bags or sachets.”
Adding “Policies should not be made in a hurry. Socialization must first be accompanied by supporting resources and funds. Otherwise, the implementation will be chaotic.”
