Coastal Cleanup Day

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Jan 13, 2025 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 04, 2022
Fact-checked by Naman Khanna
Coastal cleanup day is an extremely important holiday for the conservation of the environment.


Where is Coastal Cleanup Day celebrated?

This is a global movement that is celebrated throughout the world.

Who celebrates Coastal Cleanup Day?

This day is celebrated by NGOs, organizations that work for the conservation of the environment, and people in the community who want to save the environment.

When was Coastal Cleanup Day first celebrated?

This day was first celebrated in 1986.

Who created Coastal Cleanup Day?

This day was created by Linda Maraniss and Kathy O'Hara. They were volunteers who worked with the Ocean Conservancy.

About 94% of the lives on Earth need water to survive.

History And Timeline

This day was celebrated for the first time by Linda Maraniss and Kathy O'Hara. They were both associated with the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to oceanic health.

O'Hara had written a paper on plastic pollution in the ocean, which inspired Maraniss. Together, they approached organizations, agencies, and volunteers from the community. They gathered enough support to start their coastline cleanups.

The main goal was simple, to clean plastics and other trash from the beach. However, there was another goal: to study the trash, figure out where it came from, how long it would take to disintegrate, and the effects the litter in the ocean would have on the world.

Up until now, there have been over six million volunteers for beach cleanups.

First Beach Cleanups

The Arcata Recycling Center began conducting beach cleanups under their leader, Wes Chesbro, in search of recyclable material.

1970s

NGO To Clean Coasts

The Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization, was created to protect American coastlines from litter and pollution.

1972

The First Coastal Cleanup Day

The first Coastal Cleanup Day was organized by Kathy O'Hara and Linda Maraniss. They gathered volunteers from different communities and cleaned their beaches of trash.

1986

One Million Volunteers

About 23 million lbs(10.4 million kg) of trash was collected from beaches and coastlines by 1 million volunteers, all across the world.

2018

UNESCO Announced Ocean Decade

2020 was proclaimed the Ocean Decade by UNESCO to teach the world the importance of keeping oceans clean.

2020

Traditions And Customs

Some NGOs and organizations organize annual beach cleanup days. You can be one of the volunteers, or you can spread awareness in the community about the importance of clean water.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day

A perfect way to enjoy this day is a trip to your local beach, where you can volunteer with other people or organizations, and participate in ocean cleanup events.

You can also celebrate this day by spreading awareness about the harmful impact of plastic and other forms of litter, on marine life. Help protect the planet!

Facts And Stats

  • Coastal Cleanup Day has existed for almost 35 years and is organized on the third Sunday of September, every year.
  • Only 5% of the ocean has been explored. The 95% remains untouched by humans. 269,000 tons(244,000 met ton) of plastic debris, or 5.25 trillion pieces of plastics, is visible to the naked eye as it floats on the surface. The rest is deep within the ocean or is consumed by aquatic animals. This is why Coastal Cleanup Day needs more recognition and active participation.
  • About 70% of the oxygen on Earth comes from oceans. 80% of the negative effects on the lives of aquatic animals are caused due to plastic. Statistics, such as these, convey why large-scale actions like Coastal Cleanup Day are crucial to saving the Earth.

What is a coastal cleanup?

A coastal cleanup is an event that is organized to clean coastlines and beaches.

What is the significance of Coastal Cleanup Day?

This day signifies the importance of keeping the environment clean and how it affects the future of the planet.

What is the theme of Coastal Cleanup Day 2022?

The theme of Coastal Cleanup Day 2022 has not been decided as of yet.

How can we maintain the cleanliness of the beach?

Maintaining the cleanliness of beaches is very simple: keep a trash bag with you at all times and avoid disposing of litter, especially plastic, on the coast. If you are on the coast and do not have a bag with you, dispose of the trash in a nearby bin.

How does this day help the ecosystem?

If the beaches and coasts are clean, there will be less pollution, which will benefit both animal and human health.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Saturday, September 21, 2024
  • Saturday, September 20, 2025
  • Saturday, September 19, 2026
  • Saturday, September 18, 2027

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

Read full bio >
Fact-checked by Naman Khanna

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Naman Khanna picture

Naman KhannaBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

An English literature graduate from Delhi University, Naman's broad interests include mathematics, science, and social science. With his knowledge and expertise in multiple subjects, he is an asset to our fact-checking team. Naman is set to pursue his postgraduate degree in English literature soon.

Read full bio >