Organised coastal cleanups with standardized item-level data logging
#00095
Run recurring beach and waterway cleanups where volunteers log every item by type on a standardized card or app, building a comparable marine-debris database that identifies hotspots and supplies evidence for upstream policy (bans, deposits, producer responsibility).
Parent issue
#00080 Land-based litter accumulates on coastlines and in the ocean
Sustainable Development Goals
Location
Description
Mechanism
Mobilise volunteers to clean beaches and waterways, with data collection integral: every item removed is logged by type on a standardized card or app, feeding a large, comparable, long-running marine-debris database. The cleanup removes harm now; the data identifies the most common items and sources and supplies evidence to push upstream policy (bans, deposits, producer responsibility).
Where it fits
The flagship approach for the marine/coastal facet, combining direct removal with a measurement layer — turning volunteer effort into both cleaner coasts and policy-grade evidence.
Operating profile and limits
Proven at large scale and uniquely valuable for its data, which has informed real policy. Cleanups address litter already at the coast, not inland sources, so they must be paired with upstream measures. Data quality depends on consistent volunteer logging.
Sub-issues
0Case studies
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