I’ve followed 4ocean’s work for years, so I was happy the to get to visit their crew in Bali during a recent trip.
Personally, I was expecting some trash along the high-tide marks, and was completely unprepared for the extent of the plastic problem.
It’s almost like Bali has its own version of the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” I didn’t realize: currents naturally carry ocean plastics and pollution from around Southeast Asia and deposit it on beaches along the southwestern coast of Bali.
While filling bags with trash on one beach, one of the guys told me they’d just cleaned it the day prior.
The problem is relentless, especially during the rainy monsoonal winter months.
It was also interesting to learn about the innovations they’ve made to make the operation more efficient. They include specialized boats for the ocean and rivers, a conveyor system to hoist trash bags up the steep riverbank, and heavy machinery to sort, clean, and bundle the plastics.
Our visit to the loud, industrial sorting warehouse was balanced by a stop nearby to meet some of the artisans weaving the 4ocean bracelets which are known worldwide.
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