5 MIN READ
08-08-2025
Sunset, Trash, and Rusty Nails: Tales from Batubelig Beach
Ucik, 4ocean Indonesia Content Correspondent
Every week, the 4ocean crew makes its way back to Batubelig Beach with one clear mission: to protect the shoreline and make it safe for everyone who comes to enjoy it. What they find, however, is a sobering reminder of how much work remains to be done. Plastic bottles and food wrappers are scattered across the sand, while hidden piles of waste cling stubbornly between driftwood and coral rocks on the west side of the bridge.
But beyond the usual plastic, something far more dangerous has become a recurring threat: wooden planks embedded with rusty nails. These sharp hazards lie hidden under trash and debris, invisible until the team uncovers them. Each time they’re pulled out, there’s a mix of relief—knowing one more danger is gone—and unease, imagining the harm it could have caused to barefoot visitors, local children, or surfers crossing the sand.
The threat is not theoretical. One teammate has already been pierced by a nail that drove straight through his thick shoes during a past cleanup. Since then, the crew has approached every pile of debris with extra vigilance. What might look like just driftwood or bamboo can easily conceal nails that rust silently until someone steps the wrong way.
Despite the risks, the crew pressed forward with determination. Over the course of the cleanup, they collected 636.55 pounds of waste: 292.65 pounds of plastic, 12.25 pounds of non-plastic, and 331.65 pounds of mixed materials. Among the piles were fabric scraps, plastic bottles, and once again, those dangerous nail-filled planks. Each sack hauled away was not just an improvement to the beach’s appearance—it was a safeguard for the community and visitors alike.
Reflecting on the experience, one team member explained: “We’ve grown used to seeing plastic bottles and wrappers, but finding a plank full of rusty nails hits differently. It reminds us that our mission isn’t just about keeping the beach clean—it’s about protecting people from dangers they might never see coming.”
Challenges remain constant at Batubelig. The tide brings in a fresh wave of trash week after week, keeping the shoreline from ever being truly free of waste. Plastic wedged tightly into coral rocks and driftwood requires persistence and patience to remove, while the nail-filled planks demand extreme care with every step. Many beachgoers walk barefoot here, unaware of the hazards that lie just beneath the surface.
Still, the team refuses to give in. Each cleanup not only restores the beach’s natural beauty but also makes it safer for the community. Batubelig is known worldwide for its golden sunsets, and the 4ocean crew is determined to ensure that people can enjoy those sunsets without worrying about hidden dangers in the sand.
For the crew, cleaning Batubelig Beach is more than just picking up trash—it’s an act of protection, both for the environment and for everyone who steps onto the shoreline.
