Beach.com’s World Ocean Day 2026: Cleanups Across the Coast

At Beach.com, we don’t just celebrate the world’s best beaches; we’re committed to protecting them. For the second year running, we brought together volunteers, local organizations, and passionate beachgoers to mark World Ocean Day with a nationwide series of beach cleanups. In 2026, we went bigger: more events, more states, and more coastline covered than ever before.

In 2026, Beach.com hosted 18 beach cleanups across 8 states, with more than 650 volunteers removing over 2,700 pounds of trash from coastlines stretching from Florida to Hawaii.

Beach.com 2026 Cleanup Stats:

Here’s a look at our 2026 Beach.com World Ocean Day cleanups:

With Casey McCune and St. Andrews State Park Adventures, volunteers collected an estimated 50–70 pounds of lightweight debris from the shoreline.

Captain Jeanna Jackson led 16 volunteers to remove 10 pounds of trash from Destin’s shores.

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With Jeanna Kent and Coastal Connections Inc. & Kool Stuff LLC, 86 volunteers turned out — surpassing registrations by more than 20 — and collected 86.02 pounds of debris.

Led by Lea King-Badyna and Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, volunteers swept both barrier islands in a single day, removing 142.5 pounds from St. Simons Island and 123.75 pounds from Jekyll Island — a combined haul of 266.25 pounds.

With Karen Bell and Keep Liberty Beautiful, 40 volunteers filled 22 bags of trash, removing 286 pounds of debris from the shoreline.

With AJ Caruso and Love Blue Inc., 11 volunteers removed more than 50 pounds of trash from the Jersey Shore.

Captain Kirstin Quigley and Love Blue Inc. Chicago brought six volunteers to the lakefront, hauling away 67 pounds of debris.

With Karissa Mauro and Eco Mermaid Conservation, 16 volunteers cleared 115 pounds of trash from the Hawaiian shoreline.

Kyle Sitter and Beach Squad rallied around 40 volunteers to remove 130 pounds of debris from Daytona’s iconic stretch of sand.

With Avery Hatfield and Sisters of the Sea, approximately 30 volunteers filled more than five giant trash bags, collecting over 100 pounds of debris.

Captain Elle Jimenez, known as “Mermaid Elle“, and Saving the Seas brought five volunteers to remove 5 pounds of trash from Cocoa Beach’s shoreline.

With Vicki Patterson and Stand Up to Trash, 251 volunteers descended on Dana Point for the largest single-event turnout of the 2026 series, hauling away 250 pounds of debris — including a lobster trap, large pipes, and countless pieces of plastic film.

Captain Haley Quintieri and the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau brought 16 volunteers together to remove an estimated 55–60 pounds of trash from the shoreline.

With Miranda Radcliff and Share the Beach Litter Patrol, 69 volunteers tackled one of the most remarkable hauls of the entire series — pulling a bowling ball, a four-person camping tent, a 30-gallon plastic drum, a handmade beer pong table, a 20-foot support pillar, a busted umbrella, a 17-inch copper tire, a five-gallon gas can, wooden beams, a pallet, PVC pipe, an accordion water pipe, and a beach chair from the shoreline, alongside 107 bags of additional litter — removing more than 850 pounds of debris in total.

With David Snyder and Oleta River Adventures, eight volunteers removed 130 pounds of trash from one of South Florida’s most beloved natural parks.

With Aydon Gabourel and Laru Beya Collective, 30 volunteers filled 12 bags of trash, removing approximately 300 pounds of debris from the New York coastline.

Captain Tiamara Hong and Dania Beach Adventures led volunteers in cleaning up the South Florida coastline.

Our 2026 cleanups were proof that showing up makes a difference. Whether you’re part of a nonprofit, a local business, or simply someone who loves the coast, there’s a place for you in Beach.com’s cleanup community.

We’re always looking for passionate people to become Cleanup Captains in their communities. Here’s how to get involved:

Your event could be featured on Beach.com and our social channels, reaching an audience of over 280k beach lovers.

Already thinking about participating in next year’s World Ocean Day beach cleanup? Feel free to reach out to Maria Pearlman directly at [email protected] to express your interest or ask questions.

This isn’t just about one day or one cleanup. It’s about building long-term awareness and real, lasting change. Join us in keeping the beaches we love clean for generations to come!