Climate activists and locals are urging the local government in Padang, Indonesia, to address the issue of plastic pollution in rivers.

Members of the Nusantara River Expedition Team (NRET) visited almost 70 rivers in the area to assess the pollution levels.

Footage from May 11 shows the team at Batang Arau River where islands of litter have washed up upon the shore.

Prigi Arisandi, of NRET, said: "It turns out that we find the presence of chlorine contamination and very high pollution. We also found 420 microplastic particles in every 100 litres of water in this river.

"We also saw firsthand various types of plastic waste, especially from Unilever, Danone, Mayora, Indofood, and Wings.

"This waste is in the category of residual waste, it cannot be recycled. So it's a big task for the Padang city government to make regulations banning single-use plastics, but also encourage companies to redesign their packaging so that it doesn't cause a lot of packaging.

"Because this package is proven to pollute the sea, rivers and raw materials for drinking water for people in the city of Padang."

A number of members of the Nusantara River Expeditionary Team together with WALHI West Sumatra held an action in the estuary area of ​​the Batang Arau River, Padang City, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, May 11, 2022. This river is one of 68 rivers in Indonesia that they visited.
By unfurling a number of banners, they criticized the filth of the river, which was filled with plastic waste. They also urged the local government to issue regulations regarding the use of plastic waste in the community. In addition, they also demanded that companies that produce food products and other household needs, be held accountable. According to them, these products are the biggest contributor to plastic waste.
According to Prigi Arisandi, member of the Nusantara River Expedition Team, they have also tested microplastics in a number of rivers in Padang City. According to members of the test results on the Batang Arau River, they found 420 microplastic particles in 100 liters of water there. The particles are 1000 to 2500 microns in size with fiber and filament types. In addition, iron was found in the Batang Arau River water reaching 0.45, or three times higher than the river water quality standard.
The high microplastic particles in the river are said to come from textile or polyester which is flexible from plastic. Meanwhile, the filament comes from clear crackle shards and plastic sachets of household products.
Head of the Environmental Advocacy Department of the West Sumatra Walhi, Tommy Adam, said that of the six rivers in Padang City, the Batang Arau River is the most polluted river.

SOT :
Prigi Arisandi-Nusantara River Expedition Team.

We are from the Nusantara River Expedition Team. We traveled around Indonesia to visit 68 national rivers. Today we visit an important river in Padang City, namely the Batang Arau river and several other rivers. Especially in Batang Arau we detect the health of the river. It turns out that we find the presence of chlorine contamination and very high pollution. We also found 420 microplastic particles in every 100 liters of water in this river. We also saw firsthand various types of plastic waste, especially from Unilever, Danone, Mayora, Indofood, Wings. This waste is in the category of residual waste, it cannot be recycled. So it's a big task for the Padang city government to make regulations banning single-use plastics, but also encourage companies to redesign their packaging so that it doesn't cause a lot of packaging. Because this package is proven to pollute the sea, rivers and raw materials for drinking water for people in the city of Padang.

Tommy Adam – Head of the Environmental Advocacy Department at WALHI, West Sumatra

Of the six major watersheds, we choose Batang Arau because this river in recent years, the Batang Arau River is the most polluted from waste, then pollution from upstream, middle and downstream. We see that there must be efforts to improve watershed management, especially in Batang Arau, because in Batang Arau there are many families who depend on it for their livelihood, starting from fishing, community activities such as bathing and others. We hope that the Padang City government must prioritize the generation of waste. Because it not only disturbs the beauty of the eye, but has also damaged the health system. We've found more than 400 microplastics in one liter of water.