Abstract

This study examines the strategic role of women in customary eco-based waste management in Tanjung Benoa, Bali, highlighting the integration of local wisdom values, such as Tri Hita Karana [traditional Balinese philosophy], into sustainable practices. Using a qualitative, mixed-methods approach with an ethnographic component, this study collects data through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and life histories. The study’s results demonstrate that women play a crucial role in managing domestic waste and serve as agents of change, bridging traditional practices with modern approaches in community-based waste management. This model is reinforced by awig-awig and perarem [customary regulations], which promote community participation and environmental conservation. In the face of various obstacles, including the impact of massive tourism and limited infrastructure facilities, Balinese women have successfully transformed waste management into a sustainable system that integrates ancestral philosophies with contemporary technology. Armed with the teachings of Tri Hita Karana and the traditional spirit of togetherness, they apply the principles of the circular economy by converting organic waste into compost, transforming plastic waste into profitable handicraft products, and establishing a community-based waste reduction and recycling system. This approach not only reduces waste piles but also strengthens the economies of local communities, demonstrating that a comprehensive strategy rooted in local wisdom can provide appropriate answers to today’s ecological problems. This eco-customary approach provides both theoretical and practical contributions to sustainable waste management and the circular economy, enabling replication in other regional models.