Great British Beach Clean

The Great British Beach Clean is a week-long citizen science event, where hundreds of beach cleans take place up and down the UK. Litter data collected drives our conservation work and also feeds into the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC).

On every clean we ask people to run a litter survey: recording all the items of rubbish they find in a 100m stretch. We use this data to campaign for change.

And we have seen some great results - the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling, and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items.

But there is still so much to do to stop the litter plaguing our beaches.

425 - litter items found per 100m of beach surveyed at last year's Great British Beach Clean

30 % - of beach cleans last year found face masks and PPE

55 % - drop in plastic bags found on UK beaches since 5p charge introduced.

To get involved this year find a beach clean near you, or organise your own.

Visit the website for step by step guides and resources you need to run a successful event.

You can email us at beachwatch@mcsuk.org or give us a call on 01989 567807. We're available from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.