Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta recycled 18,400 gallons and 47,000 used plastic bottles into decorative boats for the 2026 Cilung Boat Festival at Lake Sunter in North Jakarta on Sunday, aiming to raise public awareness of responsible waste management.
Cilung is derived from the Indonesian phrase Cinta Lingkungan, which translates as "Love for the Environment."
"A total of 43 boats created by officers who handle waste in water bodies are being displayed at the festival as part of efforts to encourage residents to be more mindful of environmental cleanliness," Uus Kuswanto, secretary of the Jakarta provincial government, said in Jakarta on Sunday.
He noted the event as part of the government's efforts to raise public awareness of responsible waste management, starting at the household level, stressing that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility.
"Caring for the environment must become part of our routine. Through this festival, we seek to convince citizens that loving the environment is part of daily life," Kuswanto added.
He also highlighted a 2026 regional regulation aimed at encouraging changes in public attitudes and behavior toward waste management by promoting waste sorting, collection, and processing.
"Everyone must start reducing waste from home by properly sorting it and ensuring it does not pollute natural ecosystems, especially rivers and lakes," he said.
Emphasizing the importance of recycling, Kuswanto described the exhibition of 43 decorative boats as a tangible example of how waste and discarded materials can be transformed into valuable creations that support environmental education.
However, he noted that the large volume of waste still found in water bodies underscored the need for greater efforts to raise public awareness of environmental responsibility.
In this regard, he expressed hope that the 2026 Cilung Boat Festival would leave a lasting positive impact on people's attitudes and behavior toward waste management and environmental protection.
"The environment should not look clean only during activities or competitions. Our goal is for cleanliness to be maintained every day so that people can truly feel the benefits," he said.
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Translator: Mario Sofia, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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