5 MIN READ
04-09-2025
Protecting Rivers, Saving Ocean: 4ocean Java’s Real Action in Rogojampi
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
On April 9, 4ocean Java’s River Boom Team 2 returned to the Maras River dam in Rogojampi, a location notorious for being a key source of the plastic waste that washes out to Blibis Beach and beyond. With low water flow offering safer access to the riverbanks, the team dove into one of their most important inland missions to date.
Led by Captain Ari Surya Prayoga, the crew—Fungki Vijar Riyandika and Rendy Yoga Pratama—suited up with waders, gloves, and ropes. Their focus: the dam area, where trash accumulation is especially severe due to nearby communities that still rely on the river for waste disposal.
“I’m truly grateful to be part of 4ocean Java,” said Ari. “Every cleanup brings new challenges, but also new ways for us to grow—and to be part of something that helps our entire country.”
Midway through the day, something stopped us in our tracks: a big green sea turtle, tangled up in rope and plastic, washed ashore. It looked exhausted. We quickly helped free it and let it rest. After a few minutes, it perked up a bit, so we gently released it back into the ocean. We named it Jufrin. Swim free, buddy.
Later that afternoon, a smaller crew broke off to focus on the steeper, more dangerous slopes under the dam. Ropes were needed just to safely descend. The terrain was slippery and unstable, but the team pushed forward, knowing these tucked-away areas often collect the most waste. Once on-site, they began sorting the debris by type—plastic versus non-plastic. It was grueling work, but the results were worth it. They removed 384.7 pounds of trash from this section alone: 292.1 pounds of plastic waste and 92.6 pounds of non-plastic items. Among the haul? Flip-flops, styrofoam fragments, glass bottles, rusted cans, and single-use plastics in every form imaginable.
Beyond the physical work, there’s a larger battle being fought: public awareness. Too many people still throw trash into waterways without thinking of the consequences. Not just inorganic waste—organic too. This careless disposal clogs rivers, poisons marine ecosystems, and transforms coastlines into dumps.
Pollution in rivers isn’t just an eyesore—it threatens everything downstream. From damaging aquatic ecosystems to polluting irrigation water for local farms, trash in our rivers has long-term impacts on both the environment and human communities.
That’s why 4ocean Java’s inland cleanups are so critical. Each mission is part of a broader vision: restore Indonesia’s rivers so they can support life, not carry waste.
“I hope we can expand this work to every major city in Indonesia,” Ari added. “We need solutions that are as widespread as the problem.”
From the steep banks of Rogojampi to the open waves near Blibis Beach, everything is connected. Clean rivers lead to a clean ocean—and with continued teamwork and community involvement, 4ocean Java is making that vision a reality, one cleanup at a time.
