Organizing a beach cleanup - 10 steps for successful beach cleanups

Want to organize your own Beach CleanUp and clean up a beach? Then you've come to the right place! A beach vacation is actually about relaxation. Unfortunately, the amount of plastic waste in the sand and water often has the opposite effect. If you don't want to stand idly by and do something about the waste problem, you should definitely start a CleanUp!

In my experience, cleaning up the beach together with other people is a lot of fun and automatically motivates other spontaneous supporters to join in. Teamwork also makes the campaign much more effective.

In this article, we would therefore like to show you exactly how you can start your own Beach CleanUp and do something about plastic waste in the environment. You will also find out exactly what is motivating more and more people to do so. Let's go!

Reasons: Why organize a Beach CleanUp?

Can you add another final motivation boost need? I have organized CleanUps for years and participated in countless events - and sometimes had to remind myself why I was doing it.

Here are some of what I consider main advantages and reasonsto set up their own (beach) CleanUp:

1. Plastic in the environment does not rotas it is not biodegradable. It stays forever.
2. Set a sign and make it clear that you Littering and no longer accept the garbage in the environment without doing anything. You are a positive role model for many other people.
3. Bathe in the sun and do good - For you personally, for the animals, the environment, the location and the people who live there.
4. Get to know fantastic people and bring like-minded people together to do something good and share it with other people.
5. Do something selflessthat you can be proud of and for which you can still Get karma points.

Tip: Take a look at the article Reasons for collecting waste on vacation inside. There you will find even more motifs to take the initiative on your next trip.

10 steps: How do you organize your own Beach CleanUp?

Of course, you can also simply start a Beach CleanUp on your own and hope that as many people as possible will support you. But more effective and funnier if you plan your CleanUp with some lead time and mobilize a lot of supporters right from the start.

Just follow these 10 steps and tipsto make your Beach CleanUp a success and get as many people as possible involved:

1. Determine the time and place of the CleanUp
2. Plan the CleanUp event
3. Share your planned event and mobilize supporters
4. Get bin bags, grabbers and gloves for the CleanUp
5. Give clear instructions at the agreed location
6. Start the Beach CleanUp at the agreed time
7. Answer all questions from participants and observers
8. Take photos and videos during the CleanUp
9. Dispose of the collected waste properly
10. Share your clean-up campaign on social media

Tip: Also likes to our worldwide Beach CleanUp community on Facebook and share your own actions against plastic waste in the environment with like-minded people.

1. determine the time and place of the CleanUp

Find a Beach where there is a lot of plastic waste and choose a time of day when it is not too hot but there are still lots of people hanging around on the beach. From 8-11am or 4-7pm were ideal times in my experience.

2. plan the CleanUp event

Think about what to consider at your individual CleanUp event and plan it a little in advance so that it is as successful as possible.

Here are some questions you Clarify beforehand should:

• How is the collected plastic waste disposed of?
• Are there potential sponsors? (e.g. for drinks or equipment)
• How many participants are expected and what equipment do you need?
• What creative challenges can you use to motivate participants?

3. share your planned event and mobilize supporters

First of all, it is recommended that you have a Create an online Facebook event with all the facts and figures about your CleanUp and share it with people around you. Also a large sign on the beach with the most important information about the event is extremely effective.

In addition, you can simply enter your Accommodation, an Schools, bars, cafés and restaurants or other companies and facilities in the vicinity.

Just approach people openly. You don't want to sell them something, you want to do something really valuable for the environment. You'll quickly find like-minded people who will be happy to help you with your CleanUp.

Tip: Whether Beach CleanUp or not - with an open manner you will definitely meet a lot of great people while traveling.

4. get gloves, bin bags and grabbers for the cleanup

If you want to organize a joint beach cleanup, you will need the right equipment. But it's really manageable! 🙂

Here are some things you make it available to all participants should:

• Work gloves (e.g. these* directly for several participants)
• Garbage tongs (e.g. these* in the set)
• Garbage bags (e.g. these* or these sturdy paper bags*)

You may also be able to from people in the area (e.g. in beach bars, surf schools or cafés), depending on where you are. If you tell them what you plan to do with it, people are usually very helpful.

5. give clear instructions at the agreed location

A well-organized Beach CleanUp always needs people who take the reins and give commands. You can avoid confusion by giving clear instructions in advance and using one or two explanatory signs.

Here are a few things you should do:

• Stake out the CleanUp area (e.g. with two surfboards or cardboard signs)
• Provide information on waste separation (e.g. different bags for cigarettes, plastic and metal)
• Ask if everyone agreeswhen they appear in the event photos on the net.
• Prepare the equipment as followsthat everyone automatically knows what to do.
• Announce challenges (e.g. the goal is to collect 100 kilograms of waste today)

6. start the Beach CleanUp at the agreed time

All set? Then start cleaning up the beach and collecting the garbage. Put the Focus on plastics that remain in nature for decades or centuries.

Plastic bottles (approx. 450 years), Tin cans (approx. 200 years), fishing lines (approx. 600 years), Diapers (approx. 450 years) and Plastic bags (approx. 10-20 years) and Cigarette butt (10-15 years old), for example, are among the typical finds.

But of course collect all the others too Things that do not belong in nature or pose a danger to animals and humans.

Tip: To Cigarette butts in the environmentI have written a separate article about the damage they cause and what you can do about them.

7. answer all questions from participants and observers

Experience has shown that questions always arise during a CleanUp - and as the organizer, you are the first point of contact. Take the opportunity to help others Inspire people to "join in, copy or do better".

Here are a few questions (and sensible answers) that I and organizer friends are often asked:

• Why are you doing this? (e.g. plastic stays forever, someone has to start, it's fun)
• What will you do with the garbage later? (e.g. local waste disposal company collects it)
• How can this waste be prevented? (e.g. plastic free living and Zero Waste Lifestyle)
• Is it even worth it? (e.g. every plastic part less is a win for everyone)

8. take photos and videos during the CleanUp

Beautiful moments can be captured with photos and videos. But during the CleanUp, you should also be out and about with your camera to capture the images. later share with as many people as possible to be able

For example, hold the Before and after comparison, the Joy in the CleanUp team and collected waste fixed.

9. dispose of the collected waste properly

Ideally, you should have already Waste disposal company on site and ask those responsible what you should do with the garbage after the CleanUp. It is important to specify a collection point so that you can leave your full bin bags there as agreed until they are collected.

At my cleanups in Indonesia for example, I had organized the pick-up with the Organization Eco-Bali which recycles the waste.

10. share your clean-up campaign on social media

I recommend that you upload the pictures of your cleanup campaign to your Facebook profile and Blog (if available) or also at Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest to share.

How to create Attention for the environmental problem and its solutions.

Share your action with pleasure in our joint Beach CleanUp group on Facebook and get a deserved pat on the back from the community.

Organize a Beach CleanUp and make the difference!

Finally, here you have another nice overview of the wonderful people who Organize regular cleanups all over the world. Feel free to join in. And if you just want to lend a hand spontaneously, you're sure to find a clean-up event or two in your area that you can take part in.

And one more thing for the head: there are Hardly a more satisfying feelingthan admiring the clean beach after a sweaty cleanup from the beach bar. 🙂

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi (more Environmental protection quotes)

Now I wish you every success in organizing your own beach cleanup. Do you have any questions, suggestions or further tips? Then please write me a comment!

Stay clean and make the world a little bit better every day,

PS: Getting plastic waste out of the sea and off the beaches is one thing. The other is to prevent it from being created in the first place. In the article Zero Waste Tips, you can find out how to produce less waste in your everyday life.