By Cahyo and Delphine | FMPL and Gili Eco Trust Project Managers
The island dump is growing, steadily, every single day.
But how did we get here?
For decades, waste management on Gili Trawangan has been a chronically under-funded issue. While the island has become a world-renowned destination, welcoming over one million tourists every year, the infrastructure has not kept pace with the demands of modern tourism. Every plate of food, every water bottle, every shopping bag, every flip-flop left behind adds up. And without the proper systems in place, much of this ends up in one place—the dump.
On an island without cars, the challenges are magnified. Waste must be collected daily, transported manually or by small carts, hand-sorted piece by piece, and then directed to composting, recycling, or unfortunately, landfill.
Organizations like FMPL (@fmplgilitrawangan) stand at the very heart of this effort. Day after day, they keep the island running behind the scenes—ensuring that locals and businesses can keep up with tourist demand while still protecting the environment we all come here to enjoy.
In the past few months, there have been significant positive steps forward:
• The donation of an excavator to better manage the dump.
• The retirement of rubbish ponies, after years of hard work, in favor of more efficient motorbike carts.
• The introduction of advanced sorting lines and composting machinery, allowing us to separate and process waste more effectively.
But the greatest challenge still remains: the sheer volume of mixed waste and getting our new waste management system supported and implemented. And avoiding a fire on the rubbish dump. This year high season, no fire o the dump, we controlled one rapidly next to the dump so no bad consequences.
This is where you—our visitors and donators—make all the difference. Tourism is the backbone of the island’s economy, and your choices ripple further than you may realize.
If at home you wouldn’t buy endless bottles of water, burn through five pairs of flip-flops, ask for plastic bags at every shop, or throw all your waste into one bin—why do it here?
Our new system includes waste separation from source otherwise no pick up. We need the local authorities to support us to make that contract as a local rule.
Eco-consciousness is not about perfection. It’s about consistency. Some countries move slower than others when it comes to sustainability—whether because of limited economic resources, infrastructure gaps, or simply lack of demand. But demand is powerful. Demand drives change.
And change starts where YOU start with our help for tips and tricks to help you know what is organic and what is not.
Recently we have done so many clean ups and a new community group has been organising many too, making us hopeful that everyone starts to feel responsible of their waste and island.
Every refillable bottle. Every separated bag of waste. Every time you say “no” to single-use plastic. It all adds up. It all counts.
Because the truth is simple: if you love Gili, you also love the people, the community, and the environment that make this island so special. Protecting it starts with your everyday choices.
Education will be our mission once the new system is accepted and pushed by local authorities.
It starts with all of us, not just FMPL
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