The Kapuas river is far from the picture-perfect mountain stream it once was.

Indeed, the big river in Selimbau district, Kapuas Hulu regency, West Kalimantan, is threatening to become a giant waste dump.

Plastic and paper waste, feces and other detritus produced by humans meander down the banks of the river from houses perched on stilts.

Where there are animals in barns, yet more unpleasant waste is ejected into the brown water, in which many residents bathe and wash.

The district authorities are at a loss as to how to separate the once fresh water from the garbage, and how to solve the problem in the long term by raising awareness among residents about the hazards of living amid trash and the importance of a clean environment.

Selimbau district, which covers an area of nearly 10,000 hectares, is home to 14,274 residents, or 4,560 families, most of whom have settled along the river's banks.

Idrus, a ranger at Betung Kerihun National Park, said the river's source was in the park.

The river is 1,143 km long, and its basin covers 9.4 million hectares.

Sukirman, who breeds cows and fish, said it was the norm for residents to discard their trash into the river.

"Our neighborhood is surrounded by water andall right to dump trash under homes as it will be naturally be swept away, making our environment clean again," said the resident of Gudang Hulu village in Selimbau.

Selimbau district head Abang Sudarmo said it would be difficult for the villagers to overcome the habit.

He said his district had never promoted the concept of a clean environment to the residents, let alone prevented them from sullying the river.

"It's because I'm confused myself about how to solve the garbage disposal problem here," he said.

"I know waste can be turned into compost but only a few people understand that."

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