International Coastal Cleanup drives global waste removal efforts

Volunteers globally participated in the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup, focusing on removing marine debris and documenting waste types to inform environmental policy.

In the Philippines, cleanup efforts were widespread. In Central Luzon, over 1,700 volunteers collected more than 75,000 kilograms of waste, including plastic bags and food wrappers. In the Davao Region, approximately 6,852 volunteers collected over 19,000 kilograms of trash. Following these efforts, the group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) urged for stronger policies to stop plastic waste at the source rather than relying solely on cleanups. In Bacolod, more than 1,000 volunteers gathered to collect over 3,200 kilograms of waste, while Marawi City saw a community drive led by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy-Lanao del Sur.

In The Bahamas, more than 500 volunteers at Yamacraw Beach removed over 1,200 pounds of debris, including glass and plastic bottles, to support Ocean Conservancy research. Meanwhile, in Argentina, the European Union Delegation and the Municipality of Vicente López organized a cleanup along the Río de la Plata, where over 150 volunteers removed 1,842 kilograms of waste, primarily plastics and microplastics.