Reducing open burning of waste through the Clean Oceans through Clean Communities (CLOCC) Programme in Indonesia

Open burning is a major driver of air pollution and waste leakage in many parts of Indonesia. In Tabanan Regency, Bali, waste generation reaches 422.61 tons per day, with a leakage rate of 47.83%, and many households especially in rural areas burn waste in tebe (backyards) due to limited services, weak regulations, and cultural norms. In the village of Wongaya Gede alone, more than 50% of households and 61% of businesses burned unsorted waste before the Clean Oceans through Clean Communities (CLOCC) Programme. In Tegal Regency, Central Java similar patterns of open burning and dumping were observed, especially in villages with little or no formal waste collection. Here, CLOCC focused on villages at different stages of system development, demonstrating how improved solid waste management can directly reduce burning and associated air pollution. Across both regencies, CLOCC supported by NORAD and implemented with local partners aims to build Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) systems that reduce plastic leakage, phase out open burning, and provide safer alternatives and green jobs for communities.