Project Clean Uluwatu works to keep one of the most famous and iconic of all surf breaks clean and beautiful. The wave at Uluwatu is world renowned and steeped in surfing history ever since its feature in the seminal film, Morning of the Earth in 1972. Yet, the ever growing popularity of the wave has resulted in environmental degradation of the area. Although there is an average of 500 visitors per day, and Uluwatu was once used as a contest site in the ASP World Tour of 2009, no infrastructure for waste management was provided. These and other environmental issues are of low priority to the Indonesian government and so Project Clean Uluwatu (PCU) has made it their mission to address the environmental threats to Uluwatu, beginning with the obvious problems of waste management. Since 2011 PCU has worked with the local community to provide solutions to rubbish and liquid waste problems. PCU also works to provide green alternatives such as composting and community gardens. By providing central collection and processing systems coupled with beautification and education we hope to create a model of success and community pride that other beaches in Bali can look to for solutions and hope.
PCU plans to one-day turn the world famous Uluwatu Surf Break with its associated marine and land environments into a pristine and healthy World Surfing Reserve for the benefit of the Coastal Community for present and future generations.

Road to success
The BaliSpirit Festival has helped PCU raise funds to keep its project running in many ways. Last year, on March 26th BSF organized Xavier Rudd, from Australia, to perform live at the Uluwatu Surf Villas in Bali to help raise funds for PCU. The Xavier Event raised over $21,000, and the proceeds helped pay off unpaid bills, which had already amounted to $7,000, for PCU’s central bio processing tank, and compete the linkages to all the beach stalls (warung’s) on the beach. These changes have improved the feel and smell of the famous Uluwatu cave and the area above it, including the ravine that was once full of toxic black sludge. The area is now back to its natural state, something no one has seen in years.

Furthermore, PCU used the funds to hire a professional consultant from IDEP, the Indonesian foundation for permaculture resources, to help find a solution for the outflow of water that has already been processed. Together PCU and IDEP decided upon a series of wastewater gardens that will beautify the original stairs into Uluwatu, and have already started construction. These waste water gardens will re-purpose all water from the central tank, prevent a mosquito breeding area from forming, and will be highly visible to visitors providing an example of what can be done with waste water.

PCU has also built several garden beds in and amongst the beach stalls (Warung’s) that have beautified the area and helped people connect with the land. Moreover, PCU has been using their composting to begin work on a community vegetable and herb garden. Lastly, PCU has now been able to open the PCU headquarters office at Uluwatu beach, which enables visitors to learn more about the project and become involved by volunteering, as well as provide a working space for their blossoming team of International University level interns.