Since 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup has mobilised over 17 million volunteers who've collected more than 350 million pounds of rubbish globally. The programme began in Texas when Linda Maraniss and Kathy O'Hara recognised that documenting litter types could identify solutions to prevent ocean pollution.
Today, plastic pollution affects 62% of seabirds and 100% of sea turtle species, making community action more critical than ever. The Clean Swell app enables real-time data collection in multiple languages, contributing to Ocean Conservancy's global database that influences policy and prevention strategies.
Successful cleanups often become recurring community events, with organisers reporting increased environmental awareness and civic engagement. The initiative provides educational resources and connects local efforts to international conservation goals. Ocean Conservancy offers ongoing support through their email updates and social media channels @ourocean, helping sustain long-term environmental stewardship in participating communities
Time:
It's really up to what you have! Planning your cleanup will take a few hours; hosting your cleanup will take another few hours. You can host them as frequently as you'd like to!
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