Manifesting a sustainable circular economy in waste management by linking to Paddy Farming in Gianyar Regency, Bali

Abstract

Bali is a province that has a source-based waste management program that is in line with the concept of a circular economy, in the form of a waste management facility at the village level (called Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle or TPS3R). TPS3R is still in the stage of looking for a sustainable form of business. One of the main products of the waste management facility is compost, which although it is good for improving soil quality and rice field ecosystem, but is still difficult to find consumers, making the continuity of its business in question. By having sustainable business, we can generate more sustainable environmental benefits. The action research was conducted in three villages, i.e., Sayan, Taro, and Pejeng, in Gianyar Regency. It aims to bridge the use of compost for the initiation of healthier paddy farming, while identifying ongoing business processes, potential environmental benefits, opportunities for mainstreaming healthier paddy farming, as well as the role of relevant stakeholders in realizing a circular economy business model that is sustainable and more independent. We interviewed 22 key informants. The results show that all villages have the same business model, viz. utilizing organic waste for composting, plastic waste for sorting and resale, and residual waste that will be sent to landfill because it has no economic value. Although the sale of compost is still an obstacle, there are opportunities if it can be synergized in the practice of paddy farming. This mainstreaming can be further synergized into food security projects that must be allocated from village funds. So, the role of the village government in this case is huge, followed by TPS3R management capabilities, while other parties such as NGOs, academics, and agricultural activists are only limited to functioning as encouragement and companions. If the TPS3R is successful, the village community will receive environmental, social, and economic benefits.