In a major battle against pollution, Jakarta’s environmental agencies have joined forces to intercept 137 tons of waste from the Muara Baru coastal area. 

The high-impact cleanup, which kicked off on January 16, sees workers from the UPSBA and the Seribu Islands Environmental Sub-agency leading an intensive effort to shore up the city’s defenses against marine debris.

Jakarta Environmental Agency Head, Asep Kuswanto said, the removal process was ramped up daily as crews found their rhythm.

After hauling out an initial 35 tons on the first day, workers collected another 25 tons on day two. The operation truly hit its stride on Sunday, January 18, when productivity soared, with teams tackling a massive 77 tons of debris in a single-day push.

On day three, they doubled down on the operation, deploying a 100-strong workforce to the shoreline. The massive cleanup was supported by an impressive fleet of 12 pontoons, 13 trucks of various sizes, two excavators, and two rubber boats.

"They (workers) were fully geared up with personal protective equipment (PPE), trash skimmers, and rakes to fast-track the hauling process," he expressed, Tuesday (1/20).

To stop the waste from wandering, authorities have implemented a specialized containment tactic using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and bamboo barriers.

This makeshift "corral" acts as a front-line defense, trapping debris in its tracks to prevent it from drifting into open waters while greasing the wheels for faster loading onto transport fleets.

Looking ahead, his party plans to fortify these zones with permanent structures and are keeping backup fleets on standby to handle the anticipated surge during the rainy season.

"Our target is to have the site cleared by the five-day deadline," he explained.

Asep also issued a rallying cry for public cooperation, urging residents to do their part in protecting the environment by keeping trash out of the city's waterways and coastal zones.

Beyond the immediate pollution, the waste threatens to trigger a series of future environmental complications.

"This is a team sport. We need every resident to step up to the plate, because the future of Jakarta’s shores rests squarely on the shoulders of the community," he stated.