Solid waste management represents a crucial, complex, multidimensional challenge for societies. The nature of solid waste in each community may differ depending on a number of factors, including economic activities and geography. In communities living on small tourist islands, the isolation imposed by geography and the economy dominated by tourism presents even more challenges in ensuring the sustainability of solid waste management. This article presents the case study of the small tourist island of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, which addressed its persistent problems of solid waste management through a multi-stakeholder partnership approach of governance and management. This partnership consists of collaboration between a Community body and a non-governmental environmental organisation, each with close links with those involved in the island community. This partnership has led to improvements in stakeholder engagement, access to resources, financial support, transparency and accountability. Key initiatives to improve waste management at this destination have been implemented to promote a shift towards sustainable practices. Initiatives concern source sorting, expansion of collection services, revision of collection costs, material reuse projects, training and awareness-raising initiatives and improved planning.