Ambon City Government Collects 1.5 Tonnes of Rubbish from River Trash Boom
Ambon (ANTARA) — The Ambon City Government in Maluku, through its Environmental and Waste Management Agency (DLHP), has collected 1.5 tonnes of rubbish from trash boom nets installed in the city’s rivers.
“The waste was caught over recent days, particularly after heavy rain lashed the city,” said DLHP Head Apries Gaspersz in Ambon on Monday.
He explained that one of the net installation sites is on the Waitomo River, near the Maluku Provincial Public Works and Housing Agency office. The Waitomo River’s flow is normally modest, he said, but high-intensity rainfall causes waste discarded by residents along the riverbanks to be swept downstream, where it is ultimately trapped by the nets.
“The nets have been in place since December 2025, and rubbish removal is carried out regularly — every two days. After heavy rain, the volume of waste increases because much of it is carried by the current,” he said.
He stressed that although the accumulated rubbish visible in the nets might appear neglected, the trash booms are in fact functioning effectively to prevent waste from flowing directly into Ambon Bay.
“Imagine if there were no nets — every day this rubbish would go straight into the sea. This is not the primary solution, but it is our effort to protect Ambon Bay and reduce the volume of waste reaching the ocean,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ambon Mayor Bodewin M. Wattimena called on all residents to show greater concern for environmental cleanliness. He said the volume of rubbish caught in the Waitomo River was a stark illustration of the habit of indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly into drains and rivers.
“Every two days it is collected, and we can see for ourselves just how much rubbish is caught after rain. Waste comes out of the drains and ends up in the river. Imagine if all of that entered Ambon Bay — it would certainly pose a serious threat to our beautiful bay,” he said.
He urged the public to work together to ensure waste is disposed of properly and no longer thrown into rivers, streams or drainage channels.