JAKARTA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government on Wednesday launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing waste from rivers to the sea, with a target of cutting marine waste by 70 percent by 2029.
The initiative aims to comprehensively manage marine debris from upstream to downstream of rivers.
"Marine waste remains a major problem in Indonesia," said Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Didit Herdiawan on Wednesday.
According to him, the program will reduce marine waste through direct interventions in rivers, coastal areas, small islands, seaports, and other marine activity zones.
As the leading sector, the ministry will collaborate with other ministries, government institutions, provincial administrations, non-governmental organizations, academics, and the private sector, Herdiawan added.
Indonesia is among countries located near the world's largest marine waste accumulation zone, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and ranks the fifth globally in terms of waste production.
