At a Glance

• 175.35 kg of waste collected at ATMAterra Communal Space alone
• 1,000+ World Cleanup Day Indonesia 2026 participants, plus 74 Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants
• 39 million volunteers mobilized nationwide since WCD Indonesia's 2018 launch
• 212 countries now take part in World Cleanup Day globally

On September 20, 2026, two Jakarta locations turned into open-air classrooms on trash. At Rekosistem Waste Station MRT Dukuh Atas and ATMAterra, Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya in Semanggi, World Cleanup Day Indonesia 2026 kicked off with plogging  jogging while picking up litter  from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., before opening remarks from Dr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food, Prof. Dr. dr. Yuda Turana, Rector of Atma Jaya, and Andy Bahari, National Leader of World Cleanup Day Indonesia.

The timing wasn't random. The event doubled as a celebration of 70 years of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, the youth development program now active in more than 130 countries, including Indonesia.

World Cleanup Day itself started small: a single cleanup in Estonia in 2008. It's since spread to 212 countries. Indonesia joined in 2014 through Let's Do It Indonesia (Yayasan Lestari Dari Indonesia), and since going national in 2018, the movement has pulled in over 39 million volunteers and cleared more than 68,863 tons of waste.

This year's theme, "Aksi Bersih Pemuda Pemudi Merdeka dari Sampah," leaned hard into youth leadership. A sharing session titled "Pentahelix-Based Waste Management Strategy" brought together Caroline Damanik, Sustainability Editorial Assistant Manager at KG Media, and Jordan Jans, a Gold Award holder with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation (UK).

"Real change doesn't always start with a big idea. Sometimes it starts with the willingness to get involved, to work together, and to take responsibility for the environment around you," said Jordan Jans.

Petty Elliot, Board of Trustee for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Indonesia, echoed the point, urging young people to build resilience and take an active role in their communities rather than wait for permission. Auliya Nurul Hanifa, Chair of the Indonesia Award Alumni Network, added that the collaboration gives young people a live setting to practice teamwork, resilience, and critical thinking  not just pick up litter.

Here's the part that surprises people: of the 175.35 kilograms collected at ATMAterra, 7.1 kilograms were cigarette butts alone. Individually near-weightless, collectively a small mountain  a blunt reminder of how much "invisible" litter piles up.

In total, 74 Award participants (49 at Dukuh Atas and Atma Jaya, 25 through independent cleanups) joined over 1,000 WCD Indonesia 2026 participants. Contributions are logged through the GOALD app and the WCDI dashboard, part of a national campaign running from August 17 through October 28, 2026  spanning Indonesia's Independence Day through Youth Pledge Day.

What Is World Cleanup Day Indonesia 2026?

World Cleanup Day Indonesia 2026 is the country's annual mass volunteer cleanup, running August 17 to October 28, 2026, under the theme "Aksi Bersih Pemuda Pemudi Merdeka dari Sampah." It's coordinated nationally as part of the global World Cleanup Day movement, which began in Estonia in 2008 and now spans 212 countries.

How Much Trash Did the Jakarta Event Collect?

Volunteers at ATMAterra Communal Space collected 175.35 kilograms of waste: 35.15 kg inorganic, 117.05 kg residual waste, 7.1 kg cigarette butts, 4.55 kg organic waste, and 11.5 kg mixed waste from event booths.

What Is The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award?

It's a youth development framework for people aged 14 to 24, active in more than 130 countries including Indonesia. Its Voluntary Service pillar focuses on building "human skills"  agency, capability, and contribution  through real-world community and environmental projects.

How Can Young People Get Involved?

Participation runs through The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Indonesia and the Indonesia Award Alumni Network, alongside World Cleanup Day Indonesia's ongoing campaign through October 28, 2026. Volunteers can join organized cleanups or register independent efforts, logging their contribution hours through the GOALD app.

Who Spoke at the Event?

Speakers included Dr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq (Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food), Prof. Dr. dr. Yuda Turana (Rector, Atma Jaya), Andy Bahari (National Leader, WCD Indonesia), Jordan Jans (Gold Award holder, Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation UK), Caroline Damanik (KG Media), Petty Elliot (Board of Trustee, Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Indonesia), and Auliya Nurul Hanifa (Chair, Indonesia Award Alumni Network).