Bali Deploys Robots to Tackle Beach Waste Crisis

August 24, 2025 | 11:10 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bali, renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, sprawling rice fields, and captivating cultural heritage, is increasingly disappointing international tourists due to pervasive waste. The island is grappling with a waste crisis, particularly in popular tourist areas such as Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, and Jimbaran during certain months.

From October to March, strong winds, high tides, and heavy rainfall bring an influx of plastic waste, garbage, and debris onto the shores. This phenomenon has made many tourists uncomfortable and has negatively impacted the island's natural beauty.

To combat this persistent problem, the Badung Regency Government is trialing the use of trash-collecting robots as a potential solution. Notably, these robots have been under a two-year testing period by major hotel brands at various resorts across the island.

How the Cleaning Robot "Bebot" Works

Badung Regent Vice Bagus Alit Sucipta personally tested the trash-collecting robot at Finns Beach Club on Berawa Beach. "From what I have observed, this should be considered for further evaluation. This robot could be used with a larger capacity, allowing it to be provided to each traditional village located in beach areas," he said in Badung Regency on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

The small, solar-powered vehicle can efficiently scoop up small pieces of trash up to 10 cm deep along the coastline. Additionally, the sand areas traversed by the "Bebot" robot are left smooth and tidy, replicating the work of human staff who typically level the sand with a sifter broom.

"This is one of the potentials we have seen, but Bebot's capabilities are limited. Perhaps in the future, the same robot engine with a larger capacity can be utilized to collect other types of waste," he added.

Bagus also expressed appreciation for the initiative of tourism businesses that do not merely dispose of their waste but actively sort it independently, in accordance with the Bali Governor's instructions.

This solar-powered robot operates for 2.5 hours daily and has successfully cleaned stretches of Berawa and Perancak Beaches, covering a total of 180 meters. There are plans to increase the number of robots to clean other beaches in Tibubeneng.

Thus far, this beach-cleaning robot, with an investment value of Rp1 billion, has successfully collected 11,000 items of waste, including cigarette butts and plastic fragments.

NGO Efforts

Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Mudfish No Plastic and Sungai Watch have also been instrumental in addressing illegal waste disposal sites and beach plastics. They are actively creating new systems for recycling and reusing inorganic waste.

Gary Bencheghib, a French filmmaker residing in Indonesia, is a key figure in Sungai Watch, a team dedicated to protecting the country's waterways.

As reported by the New York Post, this non-profit organization collected 1,053,270 kg of waste in 2024, organized 503 cleanup activities, and installed 104 waste barriers. In total, from 2020 to 2024, the organization has collected a total of 2,796,360 kg of waste, organized 1,628 cleanup activities, and installed 330 waste barriers.

Antara contributed to the report.

Editor’s Choice: Greenpeace Indonesia: Waste Banks Not Key Solution to Solving Plastic Pollution

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