One sunny December day, a group of individuals – young, old, and those in between - gathered at Loang Beach in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara, to participate in a beach clean-up. This initiative was organized by Westerlaken Alliance Indonesia Foundation, supported by the Next Level Grants Facility (NLGF) project, a funding initiative designed to support the Voice for Just Climate Action (VCA) program in Indonesia.

The project involves civil society organizations, community groups, individuals from grassroots communities, marginalized groups, and environmental and human rights activists in various initiatives. The activities vary from actions to strengthen local food systems, enhancing effective adaptation strategies for climate change, to local resource management.

The Westerlaken Alliance Indonesia Foundation focuses on resilience and climate adaptation. Their program includes education and action on waste management with the goal of reducing marine waste that pollutes coastal areas of Lembata Island in East Nusa Tenggara. This effort relies on support from various stakeholders, particularly coastal communities.

The issue of plastic waste in the ocean poses significant threats to marine life. For example, turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their food sources. The beach, which is also a turtle breeding ground, has been contaminated by plastic waste carried by ocean currents. The debris include small items like food wrappers and plastic bottles to larger debris washed ashore.

"There is a lot of trash. The waste collected from beach clean-up alone reached 100 kg, including fishing nets and plastic bottles," Manika Santhi, the Program Manager, explained that beach clean-up activities were also conducted at two additional locations: Waowala Beach and Lamalera Beach, on December 3 and 4, respectively. In total, three beaches were targeted for clean-up efforts in 2024.

In addition to the clean-up, the Westerlaken Alliance Indonesia Foundation also educate the participants and volunteers from the local communities. They learned about different types of waste, how to categorize and separate waste based on type, quantity, and characteristics, and methods for sustainable waste management that benefit the environment in Lembata.

"From the workshop, participants understood how to sort the waste and determine how to handle it. They can simply bury the organic waste, and unorganic waste will be brought to the Tempat Pembuangan Akhir (TPA) or the Final Disposal Site," said Manika.

The beaches of Lembata Island could rival the beaches of Bali. By cleaning up the trash on the beach, the turtle habitat is improved, the beauty of the beach restored, and the environmental quality of the area enhanced. Consequently, attracting tourists to Lembata allows residents to benefit economically.