Religious Activities: Seeking Grace, Leaving Waste

This Policy Brief relates to the Sampah Upacara wikithon

Policy Brief Draft

Public Participation Wikithon Religious Activities: Seeking Grace, Leaving Waste

Overview of the Study This study is part of the Wikithon for Public Participation program organized by the BASAbali Wiki Foundation, aimed at empowering youth to address public issues collaboratively with the government through a creative digital platform in the Balinese language. The research was initiated by young individuals through a competition for creative opinions and videos on how to reduce waste generated during religious activities.

Topic Summary Religious activities in Bali, particularly those involving large gatherings such as festivals or ceremonial rituals at places of worship, often generate significant amounts of waste. Without effective waste management systems, this waste can accumulate and become difficult to handle. According to data from the Denpasar City Environmental and Sanitation Office (Dwijantara, 2020), waste generated from religious rituals and ceremonies in Bali, particularly at family shrines and Hindu temples, can amount to 2–3 kilograms daily. On major Hindu holy days, waste levels can increase by 40–50% compared to normal days.

For example, during the Piodalan Ida Betara Turun Kabeh ceremony at Pura Besakih in 2024, the combined organic and inorganic waste reached 14 tons. Similarly, at Pura Ulun Danu Batur, an average of 300–400 kilograms of waste is generated daily during ceremonies. Unfortunately, the waste management system in the Pura Ulun Danu Batur area is inadequate, with a tendency for waste to be discarded into ravines or empty lands surrounding the temple.

Balinese religious ceremonies are an expression of devotion, utilizing natural resources as ceremonial offerings. The waste from these ceremonies primarily consists of organic materials such as leaves, flowers, and fruits, but it is often mixed with non-biodegradable materials like plastic. Poorly managed waste leads to the following consequences:

Disruption of Gratitude to Nature Religious ceremonies symbolize gratitude to God and often incorporate elements of nature as part of the rituals. Allowing waste to accumulate and remain unmanaged disrupts the harmony of nature and diminishes the holistic meaning of these ceremonies.

Environmental Pollution Unmanaged ceremonial waste becomes a source of environmental pollution. Accumulated waste can harbor harmful bacteria, posing health risks and contributing to environmental degradation.

Impact on Devotional Atmosphere Piles of waste, especially if left scattered and emitting unpleasant odors, can detract from the sacred and serene atmosphere of worship spaces, affecting the focus and reverence of worshippers.

Recommended Actions for Target Institutions/Regions: Waste Separation at Source Provide waste bins separated by type (organic and non-organic) at places of worship. Sorting waste at the source facilitates recycling and reuse, such as using organic waste for compost.

Public Awareness and Regulations Implement regulations, guidelines, or local ordinances on managing waste from religious ceremonies. This includes involving vendors near places of worship and using public announcements, social media campaigns, and educational materials to promote environmentally friendly practices.

Enhancing 3R Waste Facilities Maximize the use of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) waste facilities in each region to create a sustainable waste management system.

Stakeholder Collaboration Engage religious leaders, temple administrators, government agencies, youth, and communities to educate the public on proper waste management during religious ceremonies.

Recognition for Best Practices Establish awards to recognize traditional villages with the best waste management practices following religious ceremonies.

Why Is This Research Important? This issue has been creatively addressed by Balinese youth concerned about the environmental threats posed by ceremonial waste. Videos are particularly effective for education, leveraging visual and audio storytelling to highlight the negative impacts of waste.

The creative videos produced during the Wikithon for Public Participation program also serve as discussion starters for policy dialogues with government, community, and stakeholders. The program empowers youth to propose effective solutions and recommendations for waste management, fostering collaboration with decision-makers.

Wikithon Process The Wikithon for Public Participation is a BASAbali Wiki Foundation program that provides a safe digital platform for the public to address civic issues, enabling youth to engage in policy-making with the government.

The program began with the Bali Youth Conference, involving 796 high school and vocational school representatives. Participants competed in a quick idea-pitching contest on local social issues. Selected winners were invited to the two-day conference, where 160 individuals, including students, local government agencies, university students, and youth communities, identified and proposed solutions for four priority public issues.

Through the Wikithon competition, BASAbali Wiki bridges the voices of youth and the government, promoting inclusive policy-making. The first issue highlighted in the competition was environmental sustainability, focusing on reducing waste from religious activities. Participants submitted 848 short opinion pieces and 20 videos between September 12 and October 27, 2024.

Submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges:

Catur Yuda Hariyani (Director, PPLH Bali) Dra. Ni Made Sri Suhartini, M.Si. (Environmental Impact Control Expert, Bali Provincial Environment Agency) Dr. Dra. Ida Ayu Tary Puspa, M.Par. (Member, Paruman Walaka, PHDI Bali) Seven winners, representing individuals and groups, were invited to a Policy Dialogue with stakeholders to develop a joint Policy Paper.

Testimonials Participants expressed their gratitude for the program and its impact on their understanding of waste management and civic engagement:

Sulthan, Youth Leader, Besakih: "Our goal is not just to win but to draw attention to our efforts in preserving the sanctity of our village. We hope for support from various stakeholders." Devi, Sri, Tasya, Youth Leaders, Batur: "We now realize the community's concern about waste, especially plastic waste." Reno, SMAN 1 Sukawati: "This competition taught me the importance of managing waste wisely during ceremonies, and it helped improve my skills and awareness about environmental preservation."

Anggita, Erna, Lanang, SMAN 2 Amlapura: "This program allowed us to share opinions and implement waste reduction strategies during religious activities."