Joint Effort Needed to Overcome Sea Pollution

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

The Orange Troop from the Coastal Cleanliness Officer Unit of Seribu Islands Environment Office, unload waste transported from Tidung Island at Kali Adem pier, Muara Angke, Jakarta, Thursday (7/9). After cleaning waste along Tidung Island\'s coasts for three days, they collected 45 cubic of sea waste which was dominated by plastics.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The main cause of the heavy metal and plastic pollution of seas in Indonesia has been known for a long time: poor household and industrial waste management. The participation of all parties involved is needed to overcome this problem, so that its effect does not cause further damage to the environment and endanger public health.

The pollution of Indonesia’s seas by heavy metals and plastics is caused by human activity. In the case of heavy metals, the predominant source of pollution is industrial waste, while plastics come from household waste. In most cases, the waste travels downriver to the sea. Heavy metal pollution has been found in Jakarta Bay, Semarang Bay and Tanjung Benoa, which are the estuaries for a number of rivers.