Plastic Waste Turns into Furniture in Bali, One Chair Equivalent to 2,000 Bags

BALI, GARISBUMI.com – Plastic waste collected and sorted through river waste management activities in Bali is processed into furniture for marketing. One of the products is a chair which, according to the Ministry of the Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/Environmental Management Agency (BPLH)), uses material equivalent to around 2,000 plastic bags.

The practice of processing plastic waste into furniture was studied by delegates of the 11th GEF International Waters Conference (IWC-11) during a field visit to Sungai Watch and Sungai Design in Bali, Tuesday (20/10/2026).

At the River Watch Community Centre, delegates observed the use of litter barriers in river flows. The barrier is used to catch rubbish before it is carried out to sea.

The collected waste is then sorted to determine materials that can be processed and reused.

The series of visits continues to Sungai Design. At this location, the delegation saw how plastic material collected and sorted was processed into ready-to-use furniture that was marketed commercially.

This process is an example of implementing a circular economy, namely maintaining the usefulness of materials through processing and reuse. Plastics that previously had the potential to pollute waters are used as ingredients for economically valuable products.

Representative of Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA), Casandra Tania, appreciated the business development.