5 MIN READ
10-02-2025
Turning the Tide at Mengening Beach
I Nyoman Nuarta, 4ocean Indonesia Content Correspondent
This morning, the 4ocean team returned to Mengening Beach for another weekly cleanup. What greeted us was a beach unlike any we had seen before. Recent floods had left the shoreline cluttered with large driftwood logs tangled with plastic waste. Bottles, old motorcycle tires, dolls, fishing nets, and fragments of other debris were caught among the branches, a grim reminder of the persistent threat of plastic pollution.
Despite the daunting scene, the team did not lose momentum. From early morning, we began collecting plastic waste by hand. Fortunately, we were joined by the DLHK Badung team, who helped move and cut the massive logs so we could focus on the plastics. Their support allowed us to collect significantly more waste than usual.
The cleanup covered a vast stretch of beach, and hauling the collected trash to the waiting 4ocean truck was exhausting. Still, teamwork carried us forward. Over the course of the day, the team gathered a total of 1,050.65 pounds of waste across 49 sacks. This included 1,025.20 pounds of mixed waste, 11.25 pounds of non-plastic waste, and 14.20 pounds of plastic waste. The debris included bamboo, discarded toys, cloth, fishing nets, and other plastics.
For Mr. Made, the work was both challenging and inspiring.“Every week we come to Mengening Beach, yet the trash is always there again. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, especially after the recent flood. But seeing that we are not working alone, with DLHK Badung and volunteers joining to help, keeps our spirit alive.”
The day’s biggest challenge was the large driftwood left behind by the floods. Logs tangled with plastic slowed progress and required extra effort to move safely. The long distances between collection points and the truck added another layer of difficulty. Still, with persistence and teamwork, every piece of trash was removed from the sand and the logs, preventing it from washing back into the sea.
Cleanups like this highlight the ongoing battle against river and coastal pollution. While the beach will inevitably receive more debris, collaboration between volunteers, government teams, and 4ocean creates a tangible impact. Each piece of trash removed is proof that collective action can slowly reclaim and protect these vital shorelines.
Mengening Beach may never be completely free from trash overnight, but these combined efforts show that persistent care and community cooperation can make a difference. Today, the team proved that even after floods, plastic pollution can be confronted and cleared when people work together.
