International Coastal Cleanup Day

What Is International Coastal Cleanup Day

September 22 is "International Coastal Cleanup Day," linked to the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) started at the call of the U.S. environmental NGO Ocean Conservancy. It has grown into a worldwide effort in which volunteers clean up and survey beaches around a weekend close to this date. Japanese anniversary guides often say it was begun in 1985 by the "Center for Marine Conservation" in San Francisco, but accounts of the organization's history (it is based in Washington, D.C.) date the first cleanup to 1986.

Coastlines Around the World, Cleaned on the Same Day

The day is defined by more than just picking up litter — volunteers record the type and quantity of debris they collect, turning the cleanup into a data-gathering exercise that reveals the true scale of ocean debris. The data collected has become an important resource for shaping marine pollution policy.

• Origin: The International Coastal Cleanup started by the U.S. NGO Ocean Conservancy (sources differ on whether it began in 1985 or 1986)
• What happens: On a weekend close to September 22, coastal cleanups combined with surveys of debris type and quantity are carried out on beaches worldwide
• In Japan: Since 1990, the Japan Environmental Action Network (JEAN) has run a "Coastal Cleanup Campaign" every spring and autumn

What Beach Debris Reveals About Our Daily Lives

Much of the debris that washes up on beaches — plastic items, everyday products — traces back to ordinary daily life. Taking part in a coastal cleanup often makes people realize just how directly their own lives are connected to the sea.

Ways to Mark the Day

• Join a cleanup event at a nearby beach or riverbank
• Learn more about the problem of ocean debris
• Think about lifestyle changes that could reduce plastic waste
• Look into the work of cleanup organizations in Japan, such as JEAN

Every Individual Action Can Shape the Ocean's Future

International Coastal Cleanup Day brings people around the world to their coastlines on the same day to think about the ocean's future. This September 22, take a fresh look at the environment of a beach or river near you.