5 MIN READ
05-26-2025
Plastic Warriors: Cleaning Up Badean River with 4ocean Java’s River Team
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
The Calm After the Surge
What began as a report about a clogged dam quickly turned into a full-on river rescue. On May 26, 2025, the 4ocean Java River Team was dispatched to the Badean River in Banyuwangi after a recent strong current swept a large volume of waste downstream. With the water level dropping and the current slowing, plastic debris became lodged above the dam—an environmental bottleneck that needed urgent attention.
Led by Captain Prayoga Setiawan, the river team mobilized quickly, bringing along life vests, canoes, metal rakes, and a specially designed riverboom net. The crew split into two units: one to navigate the steep, slippery riverbanks and another to paddle through the river’s deeper sections, pushing trash toward areas reachable by foot.
A Cleanup Operation, by Land and by Water
Wearing life vests and maneuvering with care, the crew fought their way through slippery moss-covered banks and unstable terrain. Working in coordination, the canoe team herded drifting trash with long rakes while the ground crew stationed near the dam collected and sorted debris by hand.
The effort was painstaking but rewarding: 396.3 lbs of plastic waste were pulled from the river that day.
Among the waste were familiar culprits—plastic bags, bottles, straws, foam containers, raincoats, pipes, and food packaging—signs of daily consumption and improper disposal habits that plague many waterways across Southeast Asia.
A Personal Reflection on Purpose
For river team member Hendrik Prasetyo, the work was more than just a cleanup—it was a mission to reclaim the river for the community.
“It’s been a great experience working with 4ocean Java. I've learned so much through this job, especially about how crucial cleanliness is for maintaining health and protecting ourselves from life-threatening diseases,” Hendrik shared.
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the 4ocean Indonesia management team for providing all the necessary equipment and facilities. These resources have been incredibly helpful for the staff during cleanups and in overcoming the challenges we face in the field.”
Challenges from Nature and Humanity
Beyond the physical obstacles—moss-covered slopes, a wide and shifting riverbed—the team grappled with the bigger issue: public habits. Much of the waste they collected wasn’t an accident of nature, but a result of human behavior. Improper waste disposal upstream feeds into the very system the team works to protect.
The odor near the dam, caused by trapped waste, serves as a potent reminder: what flows downstream doesn’t vanish—it accumulates.
Beyond Cleanup: A Push for Awareness
This cleanup wasn’t just a tactical operation—it was a statement. The Badean River cleanup is part of 4ocean Java’s broader mission: cleaning rivers, yes, but also raising awareness. Real change, the team knows, comes when communities see cleanups not as one-time efforts, but as part of a collective shift toward environmental stewardship.
As plastic continues to flood Southeast Asia’s rivers, 4ocean Java remains committed to being on the frontlines—boots in mud, canoes in water, and hearts in the mission.
