Java Sea, world's biggest trash dump

BOGOR, West Java: The Java Sea would soon become a giant garbage dump unless the government got serious about improving its waste management, an expert said on Tuesday.

Head of the Maritime and Coastal Resources Studies Tridoyo Kusumastanto suggested that both individual and industrial dumpers should learn from scavengers who take solid waste out instead of dumping it into rivers, canals and the sea.

There have not been any studies to assess the amount of waste polluting the Java sea, but Tridoyo estimated the figure to be some 40 tons per day.

He said it would take time to change the culture here of throwing garbage into waterways and other common areas, but the campaign against river and sea pollution should be pushed.

Although the sea can naturally process some waste, its capability did have limits, Tridoyo warned. -- JP