Siliragung, June 5, 2025 — In commemoration of World Environment Day 2025, a total of 70 participants from various environmental communities and organizations in Siliragung took part in a river action called “Besuk Sungai” along the Kalibaru River. The event was initiated by ORSPALA of SMK Muhammadiyah 8 Siliragung, a partner school of the Eco Bhinneka program in Banyuwangi, as a tangible demonstration of youth commitment to tackling the plastic waste crisis.
Carrying the global theme “Ending Plastic Pollution,” the initiative brought together diverse stakeholders, including Sungai Watch, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah Siliragung, AMONG, HISPALA, SPARING, ANDALAS, PAC Fatayat NU Siliragung, TP PKK Siliragung, IPM, and several student organizations from SMK Muhammadiyah 8. Participants engaged in three main activities: plastic waste cleanup along the riverbanks, bamboo planting, and a brand audit of collected waste.
The program began with a public discussion themed “Women Driving Environmental Action,” featuring three inspiring speakers. Zahrotul Janah from Nasyiatul Aisyiyah and Eco Bhinneka Banyuwangi facilitator emphasized that solutions to the plastic crisis must address lifestyle shifts and consumption culture. “This movement is not just about picking up litter, but about confronting the root of the problem: consumerist habits and corporate policies. Small actions—like carrying your own food container or refusing single-use plastics—are concrete expressions of care that can start at home,” she said.
Decription: A public discussion themed “Women Driving Environmental Action” SMK Muhammadiyah 8 Siliragung, a partner school of the Eco Bhinneka program in Banyuwangi on June 5, 2025
Siti Muyasaroh from Emvitrust highlighted the importance of community-based waste management and the potential of eco-tourism as a sustainable solution. “In coastal areas, we’ve seen how local initiatives can become powerful drivers of change. When communities are involved in managing their waste and developing environmentally conscious tourism, we see not only environmental recovery, but also improved local livelihoods,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Regita Dwi Cahyani from Sungai Watch revealed the alarming levels of single-use plastic in the Kalibaru River, especially from multi-layered sachets that are nearly impossible to recycle. “Our audit shows a high volume of waste from major producers like WINGS Group. This type of packaging cannot be processed locally, and the existing landfills rely on burning, which exacerbates air and water pollution,” she noted.
During the cleanup, participants successfully collected 63.82 kilograms of plastic waste from the Kalibaru River area. The brand audit highlighted the prevalence of plastic packaging from WINGS Group, particularly multilayer types that are difficult and costly to process. Bamboo trees were planted along selected sections of the riverbank as a preventive measure against erosion and to strengthen the natural green buffer zone.
Description: During the cleanup, participants successfully collected 63.82 kilograms of plastic waste from the Kalibaru River area.
Besuk Sungai is part of the ongoing Zero-Waste School Movement (Sekolah Merdeka Sampah) developed by SMK Muhammadiyah 8 Siliragung. This initiative seeks to strengthen grassroots collaboration in reducing plastic pollution at its source while fostering a collective awareness of rivers as vital ecosystems and shared lifelines.
All documentation and results of the brand audit will be compiled for policy advocacy and submitted to relevant government stakeholders, forming part of a collaborative report with Sungai Watch. Through this movement, Eco Bhinneka invites communities across Banyuwangi and beyond to stand together in reducing single-use plastics—particularly sachets—and to promote a low-waste lifestyle through education, concrete action, and sustained advocacy.
Decription: The river clean-up event (“Besuk Sungai”) was attended by participants from various communities and environmental organizations in Siliragung, such as: Sungai Watch, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah Siliragung, AMONG, HISPALA, SPARING, ANDALAS, PAC Fatayat NU Siliragung, TP PKK Siliragung, IPM, as well as representatives from extracurricular groups of SMK Muhammadiyah 8 Siliragung.
Written by: Zahrotul Janah
