5 MIN READ
05-24-2025
Every Rainfall Washes Plastic Waste to Pererenan Beach
Ucik, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
When the sky opened over Bali the night before, we knew what would come next.
By morning, Pererenan Beach — a popular stretch just north of Canggu — looked like a landfill.
Heavy rain had caused a nearby river to overflow, and with it came an avalanche of plastic waste: bottles, tangled fishing nets, food wrappers, and even dangerous debris like nails buried in broken wood. This wasn’t the first time. Every major rainfall turns this beach into a dump site. And still, it shocks us.
A Shoreline in Crisis
This week, our crew — Agus (Captain), Ketut, Made, Wayan Kariada, Aftaf, Putu Adi, Dika Setiawan, and Arya — mobilized fast. What started as a gloomy, debris-filled morning turned into a powerful day of cleanup and action. Together, we cleared 978.6 lbs of trash from the coastline.
And we weren’t alone. As we worked, a few curious beachgoers approached, stunned by the scale of the pollution. Some even asked if they could help. It’s in moments like this that hope cuts through despair.
What struck us most wasn’t just the volume of trash—but the origin. Much of it had traveled downstream from inland rivers, carried to the ocean during the recent rains. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, sandals, even household waste—it all told a story of neglect upstream and consequence downstream. This wasn’t just a beach cleanup—it was a reminder that everything is connected.
River Waste, Ocean Impact
This wasn’t ocean pollution originating from the sea. This was a land-based problem — made worse by poor waste management and human neglect.
We don’t know exactly where the trash came from. Was it dumped upstream? Did it come from residential areas or businesses? Either way, it was carried downstream by the river and unloaded here, on this beach.
"Never throw trash into the river, no matter how small," one of our crew members said. "If everyone does it, the waste will accumulate and become a serious problem."
Strong Waves, Sharper Dangers
The ocean wasn’t calm today. Waves pounded the shoreline, and with them came risk. Some areas were too dangerous to approach without caution, especially sections with nails protruding from driftwood — a reminder that pollution is not just an eyesore, it’s a threat.
Thankfully, our team was careful. Years of experience have taught us to be methodical, even when our hearts are racing.
Hope, Responsibility, and the Future
This damage isn’t caused by nature — it’s caused by us. And only we can reverse it.
"Let’s protect the environment for the sake of future generations," one of our crew said. “Please, take action.”
Until that awareness becomes action, we’ll keep showing up. Rain or shine.
Waste Collected
- Plastic bottles
- Fishing nets
- Plastic food wrappers
- Sharp debris (wood with nails)
Total: 978.6 lbs of trash removed
Waste Collected
- Plastic bottles
- Fishing nets
- Plastic food wrappers
- Sharp debris (wood with nails)
Total: 978.6 lbs of trash removed
