5 MIN READ
05-19-2025
Plastic-Free Rivers: The 4ocean Java Team in Action at Blambangan!
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
This week, the 4ocean Java river team responded to a call from local residents near the Blambangan residential area. The issue? A growing cluster of plastic waste stagnating in the river due to low water flow. It was choking the current, piling into thick layers, and threatening both the environment and the community.
Without hesitation, our crew — Prayoga (Captain), Dandi, Darys, Hendrik, Ady, Biatra, and Zoelham — geared up and headed out. Armed with rakes, sickles, sacks, and grit, they descended on the polluted stretch of river and got to work.
Each team member took to the field with focus, raking through mud-choked plastic, untangling bottles from weeds, and sorting waste on the spot. The river was shallow, but the trash was buried in layers—plastic cups under branches, sandals tangled in reeds, bags half-submerged and reeking from exposure. It was slow, heavy work.
“I realize that meaningful change begins with small steps and takes time,” Biatra reflected during a quick break.
“If every individual becomes more aware of the plastic waste issue, the dumping of plastic into waterways can be stopped. This is why we do what we do.”
By the end of the day, the team had cleared a total of 300.2 lbs of waste — a staggering amount for a small residential section. Among the items collected: foam, shoes, bottles, plastic bags, single-use packaging, even discarded raincoats.
The cleanup wasn’t just about removing trash—it was about restoring flow. Stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for disease and pollution. A cleared river, by contrast, breathes. It moves. It supports life.
Even without major challenges on site, the team moved with practiced precision—evidence of months of collaboration and commitment. And behind every lifted sack, every swipe of a rake, was the same goal: cleaner rivers, healthier oceans.
Why This Matters
Plastic doesn’t go away. It lingers in our rivers, breaks down into microplastics, enters food chains, and damages ecosystems. The work being done by the 4ocean Java team is more than just cleanup—it’s a resistance against environmental collapse.
Together, cleanup by cleanup, we're reshaping the future of our waterways.
