Piles of drifting trash have started polluting the beaches of Pulau Untung Jawa, carried by ocean currents from Jakarta and Tangerang. The waste, which washes ashore at night, has left the coastline littered, diminishing the beauty of this popular tourist destination.
“A total of 21,212 kilograms of drifting trash has been collected by our officers since March 1. These waste materials are carried by strong winds and waves during the night,” said Lukman Dermanto, Head of Waste Management, Hazardous, and Toxic Materials (PSLB3) at the Kepulauan Seribu Environmental Agency (Sudin LH), Tuesday (11/3).
To address this issue, Sudin LH Kepulauan Seribu has deployed 25 personnel equipped with cleaning tools to remove trash from key locations, including Pujasera Beach, Taman Arsa Beach, RPTRA Amiterdam Beach, East Pier, and North Pier.
“Our team continues to monitor and clean up the coastline. We hope that no more drifting trash will accumulate,” Lukman added.
Before being transported to Bantar Gebang, the collected waste is sorted at a Temporary Waste Collection Site (TPS), separating organic and non-organic materials.
“We are trying to minimize the amount of waste sent to the mainland. I strongly urge residents to stop dumping trash into the sea or rivers,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Ahya Ulumudin, an administrator at RPTRA Amiterdam in Pulau Untung Jawa, confirmed that the island’s shores have been littered with drifting waste in recent days.
“Sometimes we help clean up around RPTRA Beach. We truly appreciate the efforts of the cleaning staff because, without them, our island would turn into a landfill,” he stated.
This phenomenon of drifting trash frequently occurs, particularly during strong wind seasons. Raising public awareness about maintaining clean oceans and beaches is crucial to preserving Pulau Untung Jawa as a sustainable and enjoyable tourist destination.
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