Beach enthusiasts and litter-pickers from across the country are being encouraged by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme, to make a positive impact for our coastline by taking part and registering their beach clean-ups from 11th August.
Taking place from 18th to 20th September, the Big Beach Clean is held annually to mark the end of the summer bathing season, volunteers across the country are asked to join the action to clean litter from their local beaches, waterways and towns, all while contributing to a global effort to combat marine litter.
Registrations close 7th September and the Big Beach Clean 2026 is kindly supported by Kia Ireland, who are sponsoring free clean-up kits for those who register to join the beach cleaning movement.
Last year, over 500 groups registered to host a clean-up nationwide, with almost 11,000 volunteers ultimately removing over 60 tonnes of litter from our marine environment. This year, we want to continue the coastal care efforts and promote citizen science action through filling out the Big Beach Clean Marine Litter Data Cards.
ASSISTING POLICY CHANGE
The Big Beach Clean is held as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, which is a global beach cleaning action led by Ocean Conservancy. Upon signing up, participants will receive all the equipment they need to conduct a successful beach clean and complete a marine litter survey.
As part of this national call-to-action, Clean Coasts volunteers contribute to a global citizen science initiative by carrying out marine litter surveys on Irish beaches. These surveys help record the quantity and types of litter found, raising awareness about marine pollution and highlighting the scale of the issue. Through filling in the provided Marine Litter Data Cards or using the Clean Swell App, it couldn’t be easier to be a part of a global citizen science action and record litter picking findings.
By participating in the Big Beach Clean and submitting information relating to the volume and types of litter found, participants will help make Ireland’s voice heard on a global scale. The data collected by our volunteers in previous years has informed national Clean Coasts campaigns such as ‘Bin the Butt’ and ‘Break Up with Plastic’.
On a global level, this data, when shared with Ocean Conservancy, has driven significant policy changes worldwide, including the banning of certain plastic items like bags and straws or the implementation of laws to prohibit smoking on beaches.
REGISTER TODAY
“The threat to our Ocean has never been greater so it’s hugely important that we continue to show up to help protect it,” Bronagh Moore, An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Manager said. “Thousands of volunteers join us every year for the Big Beach Clean and we’re looking forward to seeing even greater numbers this year. Every piece of litter removed and recorded not only creates a tangible benefit for our Ocean but also helps inform future campaigns both nationally and internationally. Collectively our individual actions during the Big Beach Clean contributes massively to the global protection of our Ocean. Make sure you sign up to be a part of the movement!”
For more information and to register, visit cleancoasts.org/our-initiatives/big-beach-clean/
