5 MIN READ
02-15-2025
Tratas Beach and Bago River: A Continuous Battle Against Marine Waste
Dika, 4ocean Bali Content Correspondent
Nestled along the Banyuwangi coastline, Tratas Beach should be a paradise of sun, sand, and sea. Instead, it has become a hotspot for waste accumulation, as plastic and other debris flow in from the Bago River and surrounding areas. The concave shape of the beach and its proximity to an estuary make it a natural trap for marine debris, amplifying an already dire pollution problem.
Despite our Java team’s commitment—conducting cleanups two to three times a week—the waste continues to pile up. The root issue lies upstream, where a lack of proper waste management leads to unchecked dumping into waterways. With every flood, fresh waves of plastic wash ashore, making long-term change a daunting challenge.
On February 15, 2025, our 4ocean Java team mobilized for a large-scale cleanup at Tratas Beach and Bago River. Equipped with iron rakes, metal claws, and sorting bags, our team of dedicated crew members tackled the overwhelming waste. Divided into teams under the leadership of Manager Yohan Efendi, we systematically cleared different zones, separating organic from inorganic waste and packing debris into sacks for transport.
Our effort resulted in the removal of a staggering 8,268.42 lbs of waste:
- Plastic Waste: 3,918.82 lbs (including plastic bags, bottles, straws, and food wrappers)
- Non-Plastic Waste: 4,349.6 lbs (including cardboard, cans, glass bottles, fabric, shoes, and bags)
- Total Sacks Used: 128
While these numbers reflect a significant impact, the never-ending flow of waste reminds us that cleanups alone are not enough—we need systemic change.
For those who see Tratas Beach day after day, the impact of pollution is deeply disheartening. As 4ocean Java Manager Yohan Efendi puts it:
"Environmental pollution has changed the face of Tratas Beach from a place that should be beautiful to one full of trash. A beach that should be a paradise for marine life and a tourist destination to enjoy its beauty has now become a real threat to both marine and land ecosystems. Such conditions are a serious problem and urgently require consistent action to bring about change in order to create a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations."
Our team faced several obstacles throughout the cleanup at Tratas Beach and Bago River. One major challenge was the continuous flow of waste from upstream communities, which arrives with every tide. To address this, we focused on increasing public awareness and advocating for stricter enforcement against illegal dumping. Another hurdle was trash entangled in tree branches, including fabric, plastic, and fishing nets, which required extra effort to remove. Specialized tools such as cutters and metal claws helped speed up the process. Additionally, the narrow access roads prevented trucks from reaching the site directly, forcing the team to manually transport the collected waste. Despite the exhaustion, we carried waste sacks to an accessible area to ensure the cleanup continued. While these challenges made each cleanup difficult, they never dampened our team's determination to protect the environment.
