The move comes amid mounting concerns over the island’s escalating rubbish crisis, which officials say is being fuelled by the booming tourism industry.
The star-rated hotels now have three months to come up with a solution or face tough sanctions.
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq announced the directive following an environmental performance assessment of Bali’s hospitality sector.
He cited alarming figures from the Suwung landfill, which receives up to 1,800 tons of waste daily, far exceeding the expected output for the local population of 1.1 million.
Officials estimate that at least 500 tons of this excess waste originates from tourism hotspots in Badung Regency and Denpasar.
“Hotels must take responsibility for the waste they generate,” Nurofiq stated during a meeting with hotel managers. “Garbage is not allowed to come out except for residues charged to the local government. The rest must be handled by the businesses themselves”.
The policy targets star-rated hotels first, given their high turnover and significant waste production. Restaurants are expected to follow. Hotels that fail to comply risk losing their environmental certification and could face operational penalties.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has backed the initiative, emphasising the need for sustainable tourism practices. “Every wrong step we tolerate will inevitably lead to damage,” he warned.
The ultimatum marks a pivotal moment in Bali’s efforts to balance tourism with environmental stewardship.
The recent floods in Bali have been attributed to a combination of poor waste management and rapid land conversion.
The Indonesian Environment Minister pointed out that the extraordinary piles of garbage clogging the drains significantly worsened the disaster, which killed 14 people and saw hundreds evacuated from their homes.
