Leading Change from the Ground Up: Mr. Wahya Biantara’s Waste Revolution in Bengkel Village

Wahya Biantara (right)

Last year, the CLOCC team, supported by GoSirk and InSWA, handed over a regional waste masterplan to the Tabanan Regency, a region in Bali with over half a million residents. Developed in close collaboration with local stakeholders, the plan outlines a roadmap towards Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM), rooted in a deep understanding of the local waste landscape and future implementation needs.

Following the masterplan, CLOCC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three pilot villages: Bengkel, Dauh Peken, and Wongaya Gede to enhance waste management capacity and catalyze community-led change. Among them, Bengkel Village stands out as a model of grassroots leadership and innovation thanks to the efforts of its Village Head, Mr. Wahya Biantara.

When Mr. Biantara took office in 2019, Bengkel was grappling with a failing "collect-and-dispose" system. With only two waste workers (one driver, one assistant), over 90 tons of mixed waste were sent to the landfill each month, often left uncollected for weeks causing widespread litter and pollution. In 2020, he made the bold decision to suspend landfill transport and explore alternative solutions. Early attempts, like a makeshift incinerator and composters fell short, primarily due to a lack of community education.

The breakthrough came in February 2021 with the launch of Bengkel’s first waste bank which started without any budget but full of determination. Volunteers, mostly women, ran the operation and engaged directly with residents, supported by Bank Sampah Induk Bali Wastu Lestari (a local zero-waste organsiation). Residents learned to separate waste and after eight months, village funds began supporting the volunteers, and by 2022, door-to-door education helped normalize waste sorting across households.

That same year, Bengkel received national support to build a TPS 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle waste management site), allowing the village to manage organic and residual waste more effectively. In 2023, the village introduced progressive regulations and a tiered fee system that rewarded households composting at home. Rather than punish non-compliance, the village opted for social incentives like recording participation in village documents and offering public appreciation. Subsidies for health and education further boosted participation, doubling service users in one year.

Bengkel’s inclusion in the CLOCC program has further accelerated progress. CLOCC has supported the village with vital infrastructure such as waste containers shredders which has cut landfill trips by over 80%. Equally important, CLOCC has provided educational materials, operational support, and community outreach, including school-based waste banks that inspire a new generation.

Despite remarkable progress, challenges remain. Behavioural change takes time, and managing organic waste (which makes up 64% of the total waste) still strains limited resources. Yet Mr. Biantara’s vision is clear: a self-sustaining circular economy. Compost from TPS 3R will nourish 200 hectares of farmland, while the waste bank evolves into a community savings hub to help families afford school fees or holiday needs. Most of all, he envisions a cleaner, greener Bengkel where waste is no longer a burden but an opportunity.

His ambition mirrors the broader CLOCC vision: locally driven solutions that build resilient, circular communities. Bengkel is one of three CLOCC-supported villages in Tabanan, as well as Dauh Peken, and Wongaya Gede.