Plastic Never Sleeps: CHOMPS Supports Muncar Harbor Cleanup Mission

     The wind doesn’t sleep, and neither does plastic.

     When strong currents and wind pushed waves of waste onto the shores of Muncar Harbor, local residents raised the alarm. Our 4ocean Java crew, backed by the support of CHOMPS, responded without hesitation. Team Captain Krisna Iza Rabindra rallied the crew, gathered tools, and set the day’s mission in motion: to remove the pollution threatening one of the busiest harbor beaches in Banyuwangi.

In total, the team recovered 2,257.8 pounds of waste: 1,501.2 pounds of plastic and 756.6 pounds of non-plastic debris. The shoreline had been littered with plastic bottles, foam food containers, snack wrappers, shoes, fabric scraps, banana trunks, and more. The impact of strong winds and ocean currents was especially evident in the volume of debris, and in the microplastics hiding in the sand. These tiny particles were the toughest to remove and required the most patience and focus from the team.

“I want to say a big thank you to 4ocean Java and CHOMPS for giving me the opportunity to be part of this important fight,” said crew member Indra. “I'm truly happy doing this work because it creates a positive impact on the environment. My hope is that 4ocean will one day be present in every major city across the country.”

Microplastics may be small, but their environmental impact is huge. These particles are easily consumed by fish and other marine life, making them one of the most dangerous byproducts of plastic pollution. Wind plays a major role in spreading these plastics from land to sea and back again; breaking down larger items into smaller, more insidious threats.