Another Successful Beach Clean-Up on Gili Air: 82 kg of Rubbish Removed from Paradise
Last Friday afternoon, just before sunset, the beaches around the harbor of Gili Air looked a little different again. Cleaner. Healthier. More welcoming. Thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers, divemaster candidates, instructor candidates, and the Oceans 5 Gili Air team, 82 kilograms of rubbish were removed from the beaches during the weekly beach clean-up.
It is a number that may not sound shocking at first. But when you consider that this happens every single week, year after year, the impact becomes very real. This was not a one-off event. It was part of a commitment that Oceans 5 Gili Air has upheld continuously since 2010: keeping Gili Air’s beaches clean, especially during the challenging rainy season.
Paradise Islands with a Hidden Challenge
The Gili Islands, located on the north-west coast of Lombok, are famous around the world for their white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, and relaxed island atmosphere. For many travelers, arriving on Gili Air feels like stepping into paradise. No cars, no motorbikes, just bicycles, horses, and sandy paths.
But behind this idyllic image lies a growing challenge that many tropical islands face: marine debris.
When the rainy season starts and the wind picks up, rubbish from rivers, cities, and coastal areas of Lombok and beyond is carried out to sea. Ocean currents and wind patterns then decide where this debris ends up. Some weeks it washes up on the northern beaches, other weeks on the east side. But most of the time, a large portion of the rubbish ends up in and around the harbor area of Gili Air.
This is not accidental. Harbors act like collection points. Floating debris is pushed in, trapped, and deposited along the shoreline. And during the peak of the rainy season, the amount of rubbish arriving can be overwhelming.
Why Daily Cleaning Is Not Enough
Many beachfront businesses on Gili Air clean their front beaches daily. This is something Oceans 5 Gili Air strongly supports and encourages. However, during the rainy season, daily cleaning alone is not enough.
Rubbish keeps coming in. Hour after hour. Day after day. Plastic packaging, bottles, cans, flip-flops, fishing gear, food wrappers, and unidentifiable fragments all arrive with the tides. Even the most motivated businesses simply cannot keep up on their own.
This is exactly why Oceans 5 Gili Air decided back in 2010 that a structured, weekly beach clean-up was necessary. Not only to remove rubbish, but to create continuity, awareness, and shared responsibility.
Keeping the First Impression of Gili Air Beautiful
For most visitors, the harbor is their first impression of Gili Air. It is where they step off the boat, often after a long journey, full of excitement and expectations. What they see in those first minutes matters.
A clean harbor and surrounding beaches communicate care, respect, and pride in the island. A polluted shoreline sends the opposite message.
Oceans 5 Gili Air believes that protecting this first impression is not just about tourism. It is about respect for the island itself, for the local community, and for the marine ecosystem that supports life and livelihoods here.
That belief has been the driving force behind the weekly Friday clean-ups for more than 15 years.
How the Weekly Beach Clean-Up Works
Every Friday at 17:00, volunteers gather at Oceans 5 Gili Air. There is no complicated registration process, no fees, and no barriers. Everyone is welcome.
Before the clean-up starts, divemaster and instructor candidates provide a short briefing. They explain:
- Which areas will be cleaned
- How to collect rubbish safely
- What to do with sharp or dangerous items
- Why certain waste is separated
Oceans 5 provides gloves and bags, ensuring that everyone can participate safely and comfortably.
The clean-up itself lasts about one hour. This timing is deliberate. It allows enough daylight to work safely, while avoiding the darkness that comes quickly after sunset near the equator.
Volunteers spread out along the beaches around the harbor, working together, talking, laughing, and focusing on a shared goal. Some participants come every week. Others join spontaneously after seeing the group or hearing about it from friends or social media.
Sorting, Weighing, and Recycling
When the sun starts to set, everyone returns to Oceans 5 Gili Air with their filled bags. This is where another important step happens: sorting and weighing.
Rama, a local recycling entrepreneur and long-time partner of Oceans 5, separates bottles and cans from the rest of the waste. These materials are sent for recycling, creating local economic value and reducing the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill.
The remaining waste is then weighed. This is how last Friday’s total of 82 kilograms was recorded.
Keeping track of these numbers matters. It turns clean-ups into data, and data tells a story. A story about trends, seasons, and the increasing pressure on island ecosystems.
Saying Thank You the Oceans 5 Way
After the work is done, it is time to say thank you.
Oceans 5 Gili Air believes that volunteers should be appreciated, not taken for granted. That is why every clean-up ends with:
- A group photo, celebrating the collective effort
- A free drink for all participants
It is a small gesture, but it reflects a deeper philosophy: conservation should bring people together, not feel like a punishment. It should be social, positive, and rewarding.
Many friendships have started during these Friday clean-ups. Guests meet locals. Divers meet non-divers. First-time visitors meet long-term residents. The beach clean-up becomes more than just rubbish removal; it becomes a community moment.
More Than Just Oceans 5 Guests
One of the strongest aspects of the weekly beach clean-up is that it is open to everyone.
You do not need to be a customer of Oceans 5.
You do not need to be a diver.
You do not need to stay at the resort.
Guests from other hotels, staff from other businesses, long-term residents, backpackers, families, and day-trippers are all welcome to join. Oceans 5 strongly believes that the island belongs to everyone, and so does the responsibility to take care of it.
This inclusive approach has been key to the clean-up’s longevity. It is not about branding or ownership. It is about shared action.
Education Through Action
For Oceans 5 Gili Air, beach clean-ups are not just about removing visible rubbish. They are also a powerful educational tool.
Divemaster and instructor candidates learn how to:
- Brief groups clearly
- Manage volunteers safely
- Explain environmental issues in simple language
- Lead by example
Guests and volunteers learn about:
- The sources of marine debris
- The impact of plastic on marine life
- The connection between land and ocean
- The importance of long-term solutions, not just clean-ups
Seeing 82 kilograms of rubbish collected in just one hour makes an impression that no lecture can replace.
A Commitment That Continues
Since 2010, Oceans 5 Gili Air has organized these clean-ups every single week. Through calm seasons and stormy ones. Through high tourism and quiet months. Through changes on the island and changes in the world.
The weekly beach clean-up is not a campaign. It is not a marketing tool. It is a commitment.
And that commitment continues.
Join This Week’s Beach Clean-Up
This Friday, at 17:00, there will be another beach clean-up at Oceans 5 Gili Air.
If you are on Gili Air, come and join.
If you work here, bring your colleagues.
If you are visiting, bring your curiosity and a bit of time.
Gloves and bags will be provided.
Briefing will be given.
A free drink will be waiting.
Together, we can keep Gili Air’s beaches clean, protect its marine environment, and ensure that paradise stays paradise — not just for visitors, but for everyone who calls this island home.