Over 300 groups and more than 7,000 volunteers nationwide have already signed up to join the Big Beach Clean 2025, taking place from 19 – 21 September, and our friends at Clean Coasts want even more people to get cleaning!
Last year over 600 groups took part nationwide making it the largest clean-up to date. That amounted to 15,000 volunteers who removed 95 tonnes of litter from our marine environment.
This Sunday, 7 September is the final call for individuals and groups to sign up to remove marine litter from our coast and take part in an international citizen science project.
Registrations will close at midnight on Sunday. Visit www.cleancoasts.org now to take part.
Citizen Science
Participants will receive all the materials needed to run their beach clean and to record litter data using the Clean Coasts Marine Litter Data Cards or the Clean Swell App, which in turn helps contribute to global marine litter research.
By taking part in the Big Beach Clean and submitting litter data volunteers contribute to a global initiative tackling marine pollution led by Ocean Conservancy. This data helps shape international policies tackling ocean pollution and has already led to bans on items like plastic bags and straws worldwide. Closer to home, insights gathered through previous Big Beach Cleans have informed key Clean Coasts campaigns such as Bin the Butt and Break Up With Plastic.
In Ireland, the latest survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) revealed a 50% increase in the number of beaches and inland waterways achieving a 'clean' rating. The report credits this significant improvement to the dedicated work of Clean Coasts groups and local volunteers. The 2025 survey also identified cigarette butts, sweet wrappers, and fast-food packaging as the most frequently encountered litter items across surveyed areas.
Here is a map of all the events for the Big Beach Clean 2025 - add yours now!
Click here for more on nature and climate change from RTÉ!
Supported by Kia Ireland, the Big Beach Clean is an annual call-to-action as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), a global initiative led by Ocean Conservancy to mark the end of the bathing season. This nationwide event invites individuals, families, and communities to come together, clean their local coastline or waterways, and contribute to a global citizen science effort.
