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COVID-19 and Plastic Pollution in the Citarum River, Indonesia
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This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased single-use plastic waste entering the heavily polluted Citarum River in Indonesia, focusing on the implications for vulnerable communities living along its banks. While direct pandemic-linked data are limited, the authors argue that government programs and community engagement are urgently needed to prevent pandemic-driven plastic surges from compounding existing river pollution crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had an impact on human activity, it has also impacted the environment. In particular, the surge in single-use plastic waste is a severe problem that must be addressed by both the government and the community. This study focuses on plastic pollution in the Citarum River, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 on vulnerable people living around the Citarum River; and the local government empowerment program designed to address the negative impacts of plastic pollution surrounding the river following the pandemic. Although the impact of the increase in plastic waste rates during the pandemic in the Citarum River has not been felt directly, the public must be ready to deal with a surge in the amount of waste. In addition, the government must also participate by creating programs to overcome the impact of the pandemic on plastic pollution.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.