Achieving the "Zero Landfill" Goal

With the closure of Bali's largest landfill, TPA Suwung, the island faces increasing pressure on waste management. Against this backdrop, The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas in Bali has announced that it has essentially achieved the "zero landfill" goal: according to the 2024 benchmark report certification issued by EarthCheck, a world-leading scientific benchmarking, certification, and consulting organization for sustainable hotels, destinations, and tourism, the resort has reduced landfill waste per guest night by 97.5%.

This achievement demonstrates that while Bali advances infrastructure transformation, data-driven decentralized sustainable practices at the hotel level can play a positive role. As one of Bali’s first large integrated resort destinations, The Mulia has operated for 12 years with 745 rooms, suites, and villas, covering 9 restaurants and bars, as well as comprehensive wedding and convention facilities. At this scale, the resort has still reduced landfill waste per guest night to less than 1 liter, setting a benchmark for large luxury resorts in the region.

Key achievements of The Mulia Bali certified by the EarthCheck 2024 benchmark report include:
 A 97.5% reduction in landfill waste per guest night, dropping from 0.550 liters in 2023 to 0.116 liters in 2024, a fivefold improvement year-over-year, well below the regional average (about 0.30 liters);
 Regional recognition for waste recycling practices and the use of environmentally certified cleaning agents;
 Despite numerous pools and landscaping facilities, a 17% reduction in drinking water use per guest night, from 1,893 liters to 1,568 liters;
 Full compliance with EarthCheck standards in energy, water, waste, and emissions management.

How The Mulia Bali Successfully Reduced Waste
The Mulia’s success stems from long-term investment in waste management infrastructure and a closed-loop operation:
 Glass recycling doubled, achieving zero landfill in both 2023 and 2024;
 Paper recycling increased from 310 kg to 615 kg, with landfill waste stably controlled at 5 kg;
 Plastic recycling rose from 150 kg to 395 kg, with landfill waste only 3 kg;
 Goals achieved through internal waste sorting, comprehensive sustainability training, and collaboration with certified waste treatment agencies.

Sustainable Operational Initiatives
Over the past decade, The Mulia has deeply integrated environmental concepts into daily operations:
 Complete ban on single-use plastics since 2017, replaced by cassava-based biodegradable materials;
 On-site composting and organic waste recycling;
 Closed-loop water system (rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling for irrigation);
 Comprehensive staff training, sustainability audits, and performance tracking;
 Biodiversity protection: for example, a new fruit donation program delivers surplus fruits and vegetables to temples to feed long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), supporting wild populations;
 Providing electric vehicle shuttle services to reduce fossil fuel dependence and promote low-carbon travel.

These initiatives correspond to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
 SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
 SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
 SDG 13 (Climate Action)
 SDG 15 (Life on Land)

Supporting Bali’s Waste Management Transformation
After the forced closure of TPA Suwung due to long-term overcapacity, Bali’s tourism industry urgently needs decentralized waste solutions. The Mulia’s practices demonstrate that proactive hotel-level initiatives can effectively drive systemic change—both alleviating pressure on public infrastructure and supporting the preservation of the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

Through its proactive waste reduction model, The Mulia Bali Resort provides a viable blueprint for sustainable tourism practices: staff quietly execute, measurements are precise, and these initiatives are deeply embedded in daily operations.

A Sustainability Benchmark for Luxury Hotels in the Asia-Pacific Region
In the EarthCheck certification benchmarking program, The Mulia Bali Resort ranks among the top luxury hotels in the Asia-Pacific region. This certification is only awarded to institutions that consistently exceed global benchmarks across multiple sustainability indicators. The resort’s related achievements indicate that it has developed a relatively mature environmental management model through long-term operations and has gained international recognition.