5 MIN READ
05-19-2026
4ocean Java Team Cleans Waste From Muara Parang Ireng
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
Muara Parang Ireng, located within Alas Purwo National Park, is known for its striking shoreline and unique white sand formations shaped by river currents and ocean tides. But behind the natural beauty of this estuary lies a growing environmental problem. Like many waterways across Indonesia, Muara Parang Ireng continues to receive a steady flow of plastic waste carried from upstream areas and nearby human activity.
After receiving the report, Team Captain Ach. Hasan Izzudin immediately mobilized the crew. Before departing, the team prepared all required cleanup tools and personal protective equipment to ensure the operation could be carried out safely and efficiently.
Before departing, the crew prepared all necessary equipment, including sacks, ropes, scales, and personal protective gear. Once everything was ready, the team headed toward the estuary to begin the operation.
Upon arrival, the crew was met by the sight of the estuary stretching directly toward the beach, with waste scattered throughout the surrounding area. The team quickly gathered for a short briefing to divide cleanup zones and organize the operation as efficiently as possible.
With sacks in hand, the crew spread across the estuary and began removing debris piece by piece from the shoreline and surrounding waterways. Plastic bottles, sandals, foam, plastic bags, cups, toothbrushes, and other discarded materials were collected directly into prepared sacks as the cleanup progressed.
Hours of work under the coastal heat gradually transformed the area.
By the end of the operation, the 4ocean Java River Team had collected 988.3 pounds of plastic waste across 55 sacks.
Once filled, the sacks were lined up near the estuary before being transported to the weighing area. Each sack was carefully weighed and documented before the waste was loaded onto a truck and transported back to the 4ocean Java base for further processing.
The debris included plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic packaging, foam, sandals, shoes, bags, and organic waste carried through the drainage system.
For Team Captain Krisna Iza Rabindra, the cleanup represented more than a routine operation. "It is a great honor for me to be part of the mission to protect Alas Purwo National Park from plastic waste,” he said. “We, the 4ocean Java River Team, hope that this action will create a positive impact and motivate all stakeholders to care more about rivers, beaches, and the ocean so they can be free from plastic pollution.”
One of the biggest challenges during the cleanup came from the large amount of driftwood and bamboo trapped around the estuary. Much of the debris had become buried underneath or wedged between the wood piles, forcing the team to work carefully and slowly to remove the trapped waste.
According to the crew, much of the pollution reaching Muara Parang Ireng originates from upstream sections of the Kalipait River, combined with waste generated by tourism activity. Over time, larger plastic items break down into microplastics that threaten marine ecosystems and potentially enter the human food chain.
For the 4ocean Java River Team, the mission is not only about removing waste from the environment, but also about encouraging stronger public awareness around responsible waste management.
Because protecting rivers and estuaries today helps protect the ocean tomorrow.
