Hundreds of Volunteers Collect 637 Kg of Waste, PT KPB Encourages Collaboration with Government and Community to Preserve Coastal Biodiversity

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) together with the Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) Regency Government and the community carried out a Coastal Clean Up action at Pantai Baru Nusantara, Nenang District, on Tuesday (2/9). This activity is part of the Lawe-Lawe Biodiversity Area Program initiated by PT KPB to preserve the coastal ecosystem through beach clean-ups and environmental education.

A total of 171 participants from various backgrounds were involved, ranging from local government officials, students, communities, tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis), community empowerment institutions, to local residents. This collaboration is expected to preserve the coastal ecosystem while providing economic benefits to the community through the marine tourism sector.

PT KPB Vice President (VP) of Legal and Relations, Asep Sulaeman, emphasized that this activity is a manifestation of the company's commitment to protecting the environment around its operational area. "Coastal Clean Up is not just a beach cleaning activity, but a shared responsibility to protect the sea from the threat of pollution. We want to encourage the community to consistently reduce single-use plastic waste," he said.

The results of the activity showed a significant volume of waste, namely 637.2 kilograms (kg), consisting of 136 kg of organic waste, 382.4 kg of inorganic waste, and 118 kg of residual waste. The collected waste was sorted, with some of the inorganic waste being managed by local environmental groups as part of the implementation of the circular economy concept.

The Regent of Penajam Paser Utara, Mudyat Noor, appreciated the cross-sector collaboration that was realized through this activity. “Through this program, which is part of PT KPB's Biodiversity Program, we hope that this activity will make a real contribution to reducing waste pollution in coastal areas,” he said.

The issue of marine waste has become a global concern. A report by Duke University and UNEP states that Indonesia produces around 3.2 million tons of unmanaged plastic waste per year, with an estimated 1.29 million tons entering the sea. A similar situation occurs in PPU. Research published on ResearchGate in 2025 found an average of 413.6 microplastic particles per m² on the coast of Tanjung Jumlai, 65% of which were plastic fragments. This data highlights the urgency of collaborative action to reduce marine pollution.

Through the Coastal Clean Up at Pantai Baru Nusantara, PT KPB and the community are working to reduce the amount of waste entering the sea while raising awareness about the wise use of single-use plastics. This initiative also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 Life Below Water, which emphasizes the importance of preserving marine ecosystems and coastal resources for future generations.

The head of Pokdarwis Baru Nusantara, Aji Muhammad Arif, expressed his gratitude for PT KPB's support. “We are grateful to PT KPB for involving the community in this beach clean-up activity. Hopefully, this can become a regular agenda so that Pantai Baru Nusantara remains clean and suitable for tourists to visit,” he concluded.