Bridging Culture and Sustainability: Implementing Tri Hita Karana through Participatory Action Research in Community-Based Waste Management in Besakih Village, Bali
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24843/JKB.2026.v16.i02.p11Keywords:
Tri Hita Karana (THK), circular economy, participatory action research, green product development, ritual waste management, SDGsAbstract
Besakih Village, home to Bali’s most sacred temple complex, generates 7.23 tons of waste per day, of which only 6.78 percent is processed due to limited capacity, leaving the remainder unmanaged. This study develops a sustainable waste management model by integrating the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (THK): spiritual balance (parahyangan), social (pawongan), and ecological (palemahan). Using Participatory Action Research, data were collected through focus group discussions, interviews, and stakeholder-led waste audits. The findings indicate that integrating THK enhances waste governance. The parahyangan dimension restructures ritual waste management, while pawongan strengthens community participation through banjar-level waste banks and 24 green jobs. The palemahan dimension promotes circular practices by converting organic waste into compost and refuse-derived fuel. Household participation reached 89 percent, diverting 125.57 tons of waste during the program period and increasing workers' monthly income by IDR 1.5 million. Overall, integrating cultural values with circular-economy principles enhances resilience in community-based waste management systems.
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