Diaper Waste Excavation in Kali Tebu: Ecoton Engages Communities to Reduce Ocean Waste at Its Source

Surabaya, May 11. The Plastic waste excavation action in Kali Tebu was 
Accompanied by the installation of an art installation to educate communities
living along the Kali Tebu River (foto : Ecoton) 

Surabaya, May 11, 2026 — “As residents of Surabaya, we feel called to help realize plastic-free rivers in the city. As a resident of North Surabaya, I want to take concrete action to clean up Kali Tebu,” said Muhammad Isomudin. Furthermore, the Head of the Komunitas Pemuda Kali Tebu (PEKAT) stated his vision for Kali Tebu Moncer — a river that shines, stays clean, and can become a destination for ecotourism.

To realize the vision of Kali Tebu Moncer, Isomudin mobilized 25 young people from the Marine Science Department of UINSA, the Biology Department of UNESA, and volunteers from Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation (Ecoton) to carry out a plastic waste removal and excavation action along the Kali Tebu waterway in Surabaya. The plastic waste excavation action in Kali Tebu was accompanied by the installation of an art installation to educate communities living along the Kali Tebu River.

Following the installation of the Barakuda Trash Barrier on Sunday, May 10, 2026, the PEKAT team, together with residents of Platuk Donomulyo Utara, Sidotopo Wetan Village, evacuated 1,435 kilograms of waste, transported in 103 sacks. Of the excavated waste, 40% consisted of single-use baby diapers.

 

The installation of the Barakuda Trash Barrier, followed by the plastic waste excavation, aims to stop the leakage of plastic waste into the Madura Strait and the open sea.

“For years, rivers on Java Island have contributed to plastic waste in the global ocean. We are collaborating with the government and communities to reduce plastic waste from its source,” said Daru Setyorini. Project Leader of Mission for Zero Plastic Leakage (MOZAIK) further explained that the activities in Kali Tebu cover the upstream, middle, and downstream sections of the river, spanning six urban villages: Kapas Madya, Simokerto, Tanah Kali Kedinding, Sidotopo Wetan, Bulak Banteng, and Tambak Wedi. The installation of the Barakuda Trash Barrier in Kali Tebu is permanent and will be accompanied by regular waste clearing every two days. “After the waste is removed, we will conduct a brand audit to identify the sources of plastic waste. The brand audit will take place at the TPS3R facility in Kedung Cowek, Bulak,” Daru Setyorini explained.

 

MOZAIK

The Mozaik Program is a collaboration between Ecoton and the Surabaya City Environmental Agency, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency. The event was also attended by the Acting Head of the Surabaya City Environmental Agency, M. Fikser. The involvement of the city government in the waste evacuation process is considered crucial, as river waste pollution has evolved into a structural problem that cannot be solved solely through community action.

In his remarks, Fikser welcomed the initiative taken by Ecoton and PEKAT to realize Kali Tebu Moncer. He emphasized that the use of the Barakuda waste barrier clearly demonstrates the actual volume of plastic waste continuously flowing through urban rivers.

“The work carried out by Ecoton and PEKAT certainly has its time limitations. However, what is most important is how the city government can follow up this movement through long-term policies and sustained action,” said Fikser while inspecting the waste evacuation process in Kali Tebu.

According to Fikser, the Surabaya City Government is currently preparing follow-up measures, including the installation of waste barriers in every neighborhood unit (RW) crossed by the Kali Tebu waterway, making monitoring and waste control easier to implement.

“For too long, residents living downstream have felt blamed whenever waste accumulates. We will take steps to install waste barriers in every neighborhood unit (RW) along the Kali Tebu waterway,” he said.

In addition, the Surabaya City Government is also promoting the formulation of a Mayor Regulation (Perwali) concerning the management and protection of Kali Tebu. The regulation is expected to provide a legal basis for river pollution control while strengthening cross-regional responsibility in waste management

 

Kali Tebu is not a trash bin.

The PEKAT team recorded that the trapped waste was dominated by single-use plastics, styrofoam, food packaging, and other household waste carried by currents from densely populated residential areas. These findings demonstrate that the river is still being treated as an open waste disposal channel. For years, waste management efforts have focused more on cleaning waste accumulation downstream rather than cutting off pollution sources from residential areas upstream.

“We feel sad and deeply concerned about the plastic waste condition in Kali Tebu,” said Ladya Dwi Kurnia Putri. The Biology student from UNESA further encouraged communities living along the Kali Tebu watershed not to dispose of waste into the river.

“People must respect rivers more and stop treating them as dumping grounds. The government must provide adequate waste disposal facilities,” said Muhammad Rofiul Ihsan. The Biology student from UNESA further stated that Kali Tebu is currently contaminated with microplastics.

During the waste excavation action in Kali Tebu, PEKAT and Ecoton activists installed a giant faucet art installation pouring plastic bottles into the river.

“We want to show that Kali Tebu will continue to be flooded with plastic waste if we do not turn off the faucet that serves as the source of plastic pollution,” said Muhammad Isomudin. The Sociology alumnus of Trunojoyo University Madura further explained that the “faucet” refers to the behavior of using single-use plastics and the culture of dumping waste into rivers. To clean Kali Tebu from waste, every household along the river must play a role in stopping the disposal of plastic waste into Kali Tebu.

“Because Kali Tebu is not a trash bin.”