The Big Beach Clean is back this September and Donegal groups and individuals are being invited to join the project.
Clean Coasts, supported by Cully and Sully, is asking participants to sign up to receive a free clean-up kit and help collect litter on their local beaches.
With almost 150 groups already registered, this promises to be an exciting opportunity for everyone.
Scheduled to take place from September 15th to 17th, the Big Beach Clean is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), organised by the Ocean Conservancy. This annual call to action invites communities and volunteers to come together and host a clean-up after the bathing season ends.
Additionally, it is an opportunity for volunteers to engage in a worldwide citizen science project. By collecting data on the amount and types of litter found on Irish beaches and filling out Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards, volunteers contribute to raising awareness about the issue of marine litter. This data serves as an indicator of the problem’s scale and aids in shaping future policies and campaigns.
This year, Clean Coasts aims to emphasise the importance of submitting the information and data on the collected litter. The 2022 results have been shared with Ocean Conservancy, and in Ireland, they have influenced Clean Coasts’ campaigns targeting the top 10 litter offenders, including cigarette butts, plastic bottles, and food packaging. For example, the Clean Coasts’ Break Up with Plastic campaign was mostly based on results from the Big Beach Clean. Moreover, working with community groups, a new anti-smoking litter campaign was launched in May this year.
People wishing to join the initiative can register at www.cleancoasts.org.
