International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) mobilizes volunteers worldwide every third Saturday of September. Every year during ICC, hundreds of thousands of volunteers comb lakes, rivers and beaches around the world for trash. For over three decades, nearly 20 million volunteers in over 90 countries have collected more than 400 million pounds of trash.
The International Coastal Cleanup Day was founded by Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara, both of whom worked at the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental agency that specializes in formulating resolutions and policies at federal and governmental levels. In 1986, Maraniss was inspired by O’Hara’s work and dedication towards cleaning up the ocean. The latter’s paper, which was due to be published next year, focused on plastic pollution in the ocean. Maraniss discussed her interest with O’Hara about starting a day to bring attention to the oceans’ growing pollution problem. They approached several environmental groups and activists with the idea, and in no time, the duo had enough support to start an official cleanup. The idea was simple: Go to a local beach with a garbage bag and start picking up trash in order to reduce the amount that would be swept into the ocean by water or wind.
Cleaning up the beaches wasn’t the only aim of the ICC. Another important goal was to document and study the type of trash collected during the cleanup. Documentation included studying the trash’s material, where it could have come from, how long it would take to disintegrate, and what impact it would have on the ocean and the species living in it. Once everything is identified and documented thoroughly, the governments are informed about the findings. In order to prevent further damage, lobbying efforts are started at national and international levels.
From its somewhat humble beginnings, the movement has become an international phenomenon, and there’s always room for more people to join in! Find a cleanup near you, learn more about the movement, or learn how to start your own group HERE!
