M.S. Gumelar l Journalist ® 2025
In coastal and riverfront areas like Serangan and Suwung in Bali or anywhere with similar geography where we place and manage landfills isn’t just a matter of logistics. It’s a critical environmental decision.
Poorly located landfills near beaches, riverbanks, lakes, or other water sources pose serious risks: pollution, plastic scatter, and ecosystem degradation. When tides rise or floods occur, waste can escape containment, spreading across nearby beaches and waterways, harming marine life and local communities.
This has been happening for years in Serangan, Suwung, Bali, Indonesia. It’s even sparked tension between locals and tourists. Some locals blame visitors for tossing trash carelessly instead of using bins, but in reality, most tourists are well-educated and do dispose of their waste properly.
The deeper issue lies in the fact that the local government placed landfills too close to the beach.
That decision likely made without a full understanding of its environmental consequences has led to the accumulation of waste such as plastic, cans, bottles, and wood along coastal areas including Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.
This has exacerbated ongoing environmental challenges. Notably, even during the COVID-19 quarantine period, when no tourists were present, debris continued to wash up on nearby beaches, underscoring the persistent nature of the issue.
To prevent this, landfill siting must be strategic, and waste management must evolve beyond dumping.
With the right tools and practices, we can transform landfills from chaotic garbage mountains into organized, sustainable systems that support recycling, composting, and even energy recovery.
Why Landfills Must Avoid Water Sources
Water is a powerful carrier. When landfills are placed too close to beaches, rivers, or lakes, they become vulnerable to:
1. Flooding and tidal surges: These can wash away loose waste, especially plastics, which float easily and travel far.
2. Leachate contamination: Rainwater percolating through waste creates leachate a toxic liquid that can seep into groundwater or surface water, poisoning ecosystems.
3. Wind and wave scatter: Lightweight materials like plastic bags and wrappers can be blown or carried into the ocean, contributing to marine debris and micro-plastic pollution
By placing landfills far from water sources and designing them with protective barriers, we reduce the risk of pollution and safeguard biodiversity.
Best Practices for Landfill Site Selection
Experts recommend several criteria for choosing landfill locations:
1. Landfills should be placed a safe distance from water sources, ideally several kilometers away, such as 20 kilometers as needed to help minimize pollution and protect the surrounding environment.
2. Stable geology: Sites with low risk of erosion, landslides, or groundwater movement.
3. Low population density: Minimizes health risks and social impact.
4. Accessibility: Close to road networks for efficient waste transport.
5. GIS and AHP tools: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) help planners evaluate multiple factors environmental, technical, and social to find optimal sites.
Turning Landfills into Manageable Systems
Once a landfill is properly located, the next challenge is managing waste to prevent it from becoming an unmanageable mountain.
Here’s how:
1. Waste Segregation at Source
- a. Separate organic, recyclable, and hazardous waste before it reaches the landfill.
- b. Community education and simple color-coded bins can make waste sorting feel intuitive. In fact, fewer colors often work better, like using red for recyclables and hazardous materials, and green for organic waste.
Segregation reduces contamination and improves the efficiency of recycling and composting.
2. Compaction and Layering
- a. Compactor machines or trucks press waste into dense layers, helping reduce its volume and keeping loose debris from scattering.
- b. Daily soil covers or synthetic sheets help contain odor, pests, and airborne debris.
3. Leachate Collection Systems
- a. Install “drainage pipes and treatment tanks” to capture and neutralize leachate.
- b. Prevents toxic runoff into nearby soil and water.
4. Gas Capture and Energy Recovery
- a. Decomposing waste emits methane a potent greenhouse gas.
- b. Gas collection systems can trap methane, biogas and convert it into heat, electricity or turning pollution into power.
5. Recycling Hubs
- a. Set up “Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)” near landfills to sort and process recyclables.
- b. Plastics, metals, and paper can be sold or reused to create another product, reducing landfill load.
6. Composting Units
- a. Organic waste like food scraps and garden debris can be composted into nutrient-rich soil.
- b. Aerated static piles or in-vessel composters accelerate decomposition and reduce odor.
7. Monitoring and Maintenance
- a. Regular inspections detect leaks, gas buildup, or structural issues.
- b. Sensors and drones can assist in real-time monitoring of landfill health.
Tools That Make Waste Management Smarter
Here are some technologies and tools that help keep landfills efficient and eco-friendly:
Compactors: compress waste into dense layers. Saves space, reduces scatter.
Leachate Treatment Units: neutralize toxic runoff. Protects soil and water.
Gas Collection Systems: capture methane or biogas for energy.Reduces emissions, generates power
Recycling Conveyors: sort recyclables automatically. Speeds up recovery.
Composting Machines: process organic waste into soil. Supports agriculture.
GIS Mapping: analyze terrain and water proximity. Informs safe site selection.
Drones and Sensors: monitor landfill conditions. Enables early problem detection.
A Vision for Sustainable Waste Management
In regions like Bali, Indonesia, where natural beauty and biodiversity are central to identity and tourism, protecting water sources from landfill pollution is essential. But beyond location, the way we manage waste must evolve.
Imagine a landfill that’s not a chaotic dump, but a well-organized hub:
a. Recyclables are sorted, turn into new product, and sold.
b. Organic waste becomes compost for local farms.
c. Methane (biogas) powers nearby homes.
d. Nothing escapes into the ocean, lake, or rivers.
This vision is achievable with the right planning, tools, and community engagement. Governments, businesses, and citizens must work together to:
a. Promote waste segregation.
b. Invest in infrastructure.
c. Enforce regulations on landfill siting.
d. Educate the public about environmental impact.
Landfills near water sources are ticking time bombs. When tides rise or floods hit, garbage doesn’t stay put, it spreads, pollutes, and damages ecosystems.
By choosing better locations and managing waste with modern tools, we can prevent pollution, protect our beaches and rivers, and build a future where waste becomes a resource.
Let’s talk more about how to manage waste effectively
Local governments need to go beyond just collecting trash bins from every household, they should form dedicated task forces to clean up litter like plastic, cans, and bottles from roads, beaches, rivers, and lakes.
We can’t expect the community to carry the full burden, especially in today’s world. Most people are already exhausted from working all week, and weekends are often the only time they have to relax, spend time with family, or enjoy a bit of leisure. That’s why it’s essential for local governments to step up.
By collecting small contributions from each household and village, and tapping into tourism funds from visitors to Bali, local governments can invest in proper waste management tools and technology. With the right systems in place, we can keep our environment clean without placing too much pressure on everyday citizens.
Let’s stop thinking of litter, waste, and landfills as the final stop and start seeing them as part of a circular system, where every piece of waste has a purpose and every choice helps protect the planet.
References:
Glenda, Glenda. 2024. “Best Practices for Safe Landfill Operations” Source: https://piefza.org/best-practices-for-safe-landfill-operations/
S. K, Aroge. 2025. “Sustainable Landfill Siting: A Systematic Review of Selection Criteria and Methodologies” Source: https://nijest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/137-153_09_Vol.-9-No.-1_NIJEST.pdf
A. Yadav, P. Kumar and A. Kumar†. 2024. ” Optimizing Landfill Site Selection and Solid Waste Management in Urbanizing Regions: A Geospatial Analysis of Rewari City, Haryana, India” Source: https://neptjournal.com/upload-images/%2858%29B-4206.pdf
This article was published in AN1MAGINE, Volume 9, Issue 3 (July–September 2025)
