Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Environment and the Bali Provincial Government have officially designated Bali as a national pilot project for full waste segregation, with all residents required to sort their waste by July 1, 2026.Minister of Environment Moh Jumhur Hidayat and Bali Governor I Wayan Koster declared the Bali 100 Percent Waste Sorting Movement in a coordination meeting in Denpasar on Wednesday (June 10).”I am delighted to know that officials in Bali are improving environmental management, including waste management,” the minister remarked in a statement on Thursday.According to him, this initiative stems from the integration of policies with local wisdom.In addition to national directives, the involvement of cultural and religious elements through the role of traditional villages and customary laws is a key foundation for maintaining environmental sustainability, Hidayat noted.Bali was designated a national model following the success of its “shock therapy” policy banning the disposal of organic waste at landfills from April 1, 2026, which reduced waste volumes in Denpasar and Badung by 60 percent within weeks.The minister then lauded the compliance of Balinese residents, which has exceeded 87 percent in sorting their waste, as well as the effective distribution of more than 100,000 composters by the local government, a clear demonstration of the strong synergy between strict regulations, infrastructure support, and active community-based participation.While for coastal ecosystem protection, Hidayat conveyed his office's commitment to coordinating the handling of marine waste with the regions surrounding Bali to stop the flow of waste across waters upstream.Following the implementation of mandatory waste sorting at the source by July 1, across households, village communities, markets, hotels, and offices, the next phase will focus on ending open dumping nationwide by August 1, 2026.Waste sorting is considered a key prerequisite for optimizing the operation of waste-to-energy (PSEL) facilities in Bali, as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025 on urban waste management through the conversion of waste into renewable energy using environmentally friendly technology.”The synergy between firm regional government policies, infrastructure support from the central government, and the active participation of local communities can put Bali as the first tourist destination in Southeast Asia to truly implement zero waste to landfill,” Hidayat pointed out.