The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. IN 2021, the day is being held on 18 September. Theme 2021: “Keep trash in the bin and not in the ocean. “The first International Coastal Cleanup Day was observed in 1986.The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines and on beaches.
Every year thousands of tons of garbage winds up in the oceans, with at least 60% of that being composed of plastic material. Plastics, especially, last a very long time in the ocean and are in such abundance that there are 46,000 individual pieces of plastic litter for every square mile of ocean! This is a dire situation for the health of the earth’s oceans, which directly impacts the health of its people.
It’s time to celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day and help make the planet a cleaner, happier place for humans, plants, and animals.
History of Coastal Cleanup Day
Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that works to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year. It was established in the United States on the west coast of Washington State in 1986. Now, each year, it is scheduled to be celebrated on the third Saturday of the month of September.
