Over 46 tonnes of litter removed across Ireland for the Big Beach Clean

 

In an extraordinary display of environmental stewardship and community spirit, 7,700 Clean Coasts volunteers rolled up their sleeves and removed a staggering over 46 tonnes of litter all across the country as part of the Big Beach Clean. That is the equivalent of 12 hippos! 

The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy.  This call to action invites communities and volunteers around the country to remove litter from around the Irish coast after the end of the bathing season. 

This initiative is also an opportunity for volunteers to get involved in a worldwide citizen science project, which entails collecting the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches and filling in Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards. This will help heighten awareness about the issue of marine litter serving as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem and help shape future policies and campaigns.   

This year, the National Spring Clean programme are joining us again and registration are open to all residents of Ireland, no matter how far from the coast they are based.  Getting involved in the Big Beach Clean is a way for residents of non-coastal counties to help prevent litter entering our waterways and seas by holding a clean-up no matter where they are in the country and tackling the problem at source.

Register Now

When you register for the Big Beach Clean, you will receive all you need to host a clean-up and join our citizen science project. 

Your pack will contain bags, gloves, hi-viz vests and marine litter data cards, to record information on the types and quantities of litter you find. If you have any clean-up kit materials from previous calls-to-action, you can opt out from receiving them.

When you register for the Big Beach Clean you will automatically be registered as a Clean Coasts group and your information will be added to our database and use for Clean Coasts communications only. If you do not want to receive these communications, you can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Marine Litter Data Collection Card

During the Big Beach Clean, Clean Coasts volunteers are asked to be part of an excellent round the world citizen science data collection project and to carry out marine litter surveys to quantify the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches. These surveys are aimed at heightening awareness about the issue of marine litter and serve as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem. We also encouraged our groups to use the Clean Swell App by Ocean Conservancy. 

We hope everyone enjoys being part of the movement for litter free seas, and the world’s largest coastal cleanup event and marine litter survey!

Download the marine litter data card HERE or submit your data online by clicking on the button below. 

Submit your Big Beach Clean data online!

                                             

 

Why be a citizen scientist?

Becoming a citizen scientist can be a truly rewarding experience for individuals passionate about science and the natural world. By actively participating in scientific research and data collection, citizen scientists contribute invaluable insights to the scientific community. 

Regardless of academic background, citizen scientists have the unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on various fields. Engaging in citizen science projects fosters a sense of connection to the environment and empowers individuals to play an active role in addressing global challenges. By joining a citizen science project, one becomes part of a collaborative effort to drive positive change for a better future.

When it comes to the Big Beach Clean, taking the time to identify and count litter found on our coastline is important, it gives an indication of the scale of the marine litter issue and helps us to identify the types of activities and industries that create the most com-mon litter items.

In return we can create campaigns to help eliminate these items from our environment and assist policy change.

                                             

                                             

 

Cully and Sully are supporting the Big Beach Clean

In 2019, Cully and Sully Joined the Big Beach Clean for the first time. This year, we are happy to announce that they will support our initiative once more 

This year, Cully and Sully will support the Big Beach Clean again, 

Cullen Allen (Cully) said “We are delighted to be supporting Big Beach Clean 2023. We love our beaches and waterways and use them all year round for various activities from windsurfing to sea swimming and we know how important it is for everyone to continue to protect them. We are hopeful for a bumper sign up this year and looking forward to the events in September” 

In collaboration with Cully and Sully, Clean Coasts also created some resources to guide people on how to dispose of common items in our home as well as common beach finds. Find out more here.

 

National Spring Clean is joining the Big Beach Clean

National Spring Clean are encouraging volunteers from everywhere in Ireland to join Clean Coasts for The Big Beach Clean 2023.

National Spring Clean is Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative, which usually takes place in the month of April.

National Spring Clean said: “We are encouraging all our National Spring Clean volunteers to join the Big Beach Clean this year. Did you know that the number one cause of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and cities followed by overflowing litter bins? As evidence has shown that over 70% of plastic pollution affecting our ocean comes from land-based actions, cleaning up cities and towns has a tangible positive effect on our seas and oceans too.

For this reason, we are asking our volunteers to help prevent litter entering our waterways and seas by holding a clean up no matter where they are in the country and tackling the problem at the source.”

 

Big Beach Clean Flagship event with Cully and Sully

This year’s Big Beach Clean Flagship event will take place on Friday, the 15th of September from 10:30am-12:30pm in Youghal Redbarn Beach in Cork, and it will be hosted in conjunction with our SOUPporters CULLY & SULLY who will be providing refreshments and kit for participants. 
We can’t wait to see you there!
Find out more and join us

“5Rs of Waste Hierarchy” Resources

A Clean Coasts and Cully and Sully guide on how to correctly dispose of everyday items and common beach finds

In recent times, the concept of the circular economy has gained more and more importance. To achieve sustainability in our consumption and waste management practices, it is crucial for individuals and communities to always keep in mind the principles of the 5Rs in the waste hierarchy: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle – in this order. The first step towards a more sustainable future is to minimise our waste as much as possible.

However, when waste cannot be avoided, we need to ensure we properly dispose of it and recycle. Wondering how to do that? Check out the resources created by Clean Coasts and Cully and Sully for our Big Beach Clean volunteers, that will include information on recycling basics, what happens to our waste and stats from Ireland.

Click the button below to find out more.

Find out more

 

What we achieved in 2022

In 2022, a record number of over 500 clean-ups being organised, with 10,000 volunteers removing 63 tonnes on marine litter…that’s the equivalent of 21 orcas!

                                             

 

Big Beach Clean 2023 Public Clean-ups Map

Over 420 groups and 7,700 volunteers are set to join the Big Beach Clean this September 15th to 17th. In the map below, you can a find all the clean-ups happening that are open to the public.

If you missed your chance to register to receive a kit, why not join one of these? 

Join the Social Media Conversation

Want to help us spread the word about the Big Beach Clean? Then join the conversation on our social media.

Share your pictures and reasons why you are signing up, using the hashtags #BigBeachClean23 and #CleanCoasts and tag us:

On Instagram and TikTok: @cleancoasts | On Twitter & Facebook: @CleanCoasts

We’ll keep sharing all your best shots and stories to inspire other people to do something to protect our beautiful coastline!

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