Viral 'Trash Island' Off North Jakarta Coast Targeted in Joint Clean-Up Operation

The expanse of rubbish is located approximately 600 to 700 metres from the shore. The heap of waste forms an island jutting out of the water’s surface. The debris is suspected to have been carried by river and sea currents, then accumulated and risen above the coastal waterline, resembling a landmass. A joint team of officers will clear the rubbish heap over the course of several days. The operation is being carried out collaboratively, involving around 70 joint personnel, according to a statement from the Water Agency Waste Handling Unit (UPS Badan Air) of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH) on its Instagram account on Thursday. The dozens of personnel consist of the UPS Badan Air for Penjaringan District, the Environmental Sub-Department for the Thousand Islands Administrative Regency, the Environmental Satpel for Penjaringan District, and elements of the Metro Jaya Regional Police’s Water and Air Police (Polairud). The joint clean-up crew is tackling the ‘trash island’ as a follow-up to public complaints submitted through social media channels. The waste pile is located on Sediment Island off the coast of Muara Kali Adem, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta. The agency explained that coastal and sediment areas are among the locations vulnerable to becoming accumulation points for waste sent from the sea and water bodies. This condition requires special handling and cooperation from various parties so that the waste can be immediately removed and does not cause a wider impact on the coastal environment. The clean-up will take place in stages from 4 to 6 June 2026, focusing on the removal and clearance of the waste that has accumulated in the area.