“Labuan Bajo, Bukan Labuan Sampah” Preserving Marine Ecosystem with a beach cleanup at Binongko Beach

Labuan Bajo, June 17, 2023 – To mark World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2023, Wastehub® (Wastehub Alam Lestari Foundation), an organization focused on circular economy and green initiatives in urban and tourism areas, partnered with Oceanic Society to organize The 2023 Global Ocean Cleanup from June 16-17, 2023. This initiative, which took place alongside Sea Turtle Week, involved eight global organizations from Beqa Lagoon, Fiji (Beqa Lagoon Initiative), Diani-Chale Marine Reserve, Kwale, Kenya (Olive Ridley Project), Cerro Verde, La Coronilla, Uruguay (Karumbé), Quintana Roo, Mexico (Parley for the Oceans), Daanbantayan, Cebu, Philippines (People and the Sea), Kheireddine Canal, Tunis, Tunisia (TunSea), and San Francisco, California, USA (Oceanic Society). Wastehub® was chosen to represent Indonesia, coordinating multiple stakeholders in East Nusa Tenggara. The goal of this event was to combat plastic pollution through both online and offline actions.

This year, Wastehub® launched initiatives in Labuan Bajo, collaborating with various stakeholders. The main theme of the event, “Labuan Bajo, Not a Waste Labuan,” featured activities such as a TikTok Reels Competition held from June 5-30, 2023, followed by an Underwater Cleanup, a Beach Cleanup, a Plastic Art Exhibition on June 17, 2023, and waste audits throughout the event.

Waste issues have become a major concern for stakeholders in Labuan Bajo. Efforts are being made to reduce waste production, ensuring Labuan Bajo remains a clean and comfortable destination for tourists. A key focus is waste segregation at the source—whether from households or institutions—to prevent waste from entering the sea.

On Saturday, June 17, 2023, a beach cleanup was held in collaboration with local organizations like Komodo Water, WWF, Trash Hero Komodo, Trash Hero Mburak, Bintari Foundation, Kole Project, Nomad Plastic, and Rumah Pekerti at Binongko Beach, Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat. The cleanup involved 83 individuals from P2L, the Manggarai Barat Environmental Agency, PMI Manggarai Barat, Pol Airud Baharkam Polri, Pasukan Kuning Labuan Bajo, TNI AL, PKK Komodo, Basarnas, Insan Bumi Mandiri/Ada Impact, and many individuals concerned with the environment. The cleanup began at 07:30 WITA, opened by Abdul Haris Manggala from Kole Project and Bintari, followed by Ibu Bekti from Rumah Pekerti. Technical cleanup guidance was provided by Ranitya Nurlita from Wastehub, and the cleanup lasted approximately one hour.

After the cleanup, participants divided into two groups for waste audits—one focused on residual waste, and the other on valuable waste. A variety of branded waste polluting both underwater and on the beach was found. These waste audits helped identify the types of waste and the brands contributing to marine pollution. Simultaneously, a waste sorting competition was held, won by Basarnas and Pasukan Kuning Labuan Bajo. The total waste collected during the cleanup amounted to 414.45 kg (58 sacks)—comprising 310.15 kg of residual waste (37 sacks) and 104.3 kg of valuable waste (21 sacks), including recycled plastic bottles and glass bottles. The residual waste was transported by the Manggarai Barat Environmental Agency, while valuable waste was recycled by KSU Komodo and Kole Project.

The cleanup concluded at 09:30 WITA, leaving participants inspired to adopt waste-sorting habits at home.

Trash Hero Mburak expressed joy at meeting other communities engaged in cleaning up their beaches, contributing to a waste-free Labuan Bajo. A representative from the Manggarai Barat Environmental Agency said, “We’re very happy. These efforts should be carried out weekly.” The TNI AL added, “It’s great to reconnect with others. Many locals here don’t care about their environment, so events like this are essential.” The PKK Komodo emphasized the importance of collective efforts to maintain a clean environment, urging the community to be more aware of environmental issues and understand that cleanliness enhances beauty.

That evening, Wastehub® partnered with Rumah Pekerti and artist Edy Ginting to host an exhibition at the Teras Ekraf of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF) at Kampung Ujung, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Edy Ginting, the owner of Edy Art Studio, showcased artworks created from plastic waste. Edy, a long-time environmental artist and content creator, demonstrated how waste can be transformed into valuable artistic pieces.

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