Trash heaps block historic Banten Sultanate river

The Cibanten River, a historically significant waterway in Banten, Indonesia, is now choked by a massive accumulation of trash. A recent cleanup effort by a coalition of volunteers, including the Banten River Care Community (KPSB), revealed the extent of the pollution, with household waste, plastics, sandals, clothing, and styrofoam clogging the river's flow.

Lulu Jamaludin, the head of KPSB, stated that volunteers observed residents continuing to dump garbage directly into the river and onto vacant land, even during the cleanup event on Saturday, June 14. This persistent dumping exacerbates the problem, turning the once vital transportation artery of the Banten Sultanate into a black, polluted channel.

To address the issue, the volunteers are calling on the Serang City Government to take decisive action against individuals who dispose of waste improperly. They specifically propose strengthening the enforcement of Serang City Regulation No. 7 of 2021 concerning Waste Management. Suggestions include increased surveillance, crackdowns in high-risk dumping areas, and the installation of surveillance cameras.

Activists also advocate for educational sanctions for offenders, such as community service cleaning the polluted sites, rather than purely punitive measures. They emphasize the importance of public awareness campaigns on the dangers of improper waste disposal and the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R). The ultimate goal is to foster a shared sense of responsibility for environmental cleanliness, ensuring the river's health and the community's well-being.