The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) will host several marine debris cleanup opportunities in October and November. Volunteers are invited to join shoreline cleanups on Cape Cod and in Fairhaven, and to participate in the debris data collection and documentation.
Cape Cod National Seashore, October 17-20, and October 22-25
On October 17-20, 2025, the Center for Coastal Studies will host its 10th annual GREAT BEACH CLEANUP. This cleanup takes place on four consecutive days, Friday through Monday, beginning at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham and concluding at Race Point Beach in Provincetown. Volunteers may choose to join one or more days. Please note, these are full-day cleanups, rain or shine (with an exception for hurricanes!) from 8 am to 5 pm.
Following the Great Beach Cleanup, the collected debris will be sorted and inventoried at the four-day Trash Tally, tentatively scheduled for October 22 – 25. Last year’s GBC yielded over 63,000 individual debris items weighing in over 2,000 pounds.
Registration for both the cleanup and tally is required. Details will be sent to all registrants.
Marsh Island, Fairhaven, November 1, 2, 4, 5
In a massive collaboration between the CCS Beach Brigade, Operation Clean Sweep, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Fairhaven-Acushnet Land Preservation Trust and the municipalities of New Bedford and Fairhaven, four days of intensive cleanup and data collection will take place on Marsh Island in the Acushnet River estuary on Saturday, November 1, and Monday through Wednesday, November 3-5, 2025.
Located on the Fairhaven side of the river and attached to the mainland, debris has accumulated on the shore of this peninsula for decades. It is expected that over 3 tons of lightweight plastic items will be removed, in addition to heavier debris. Registration is required. All are welcome to join this concerted effort and details will be sent to all registrants. A safety orientation will begin each day and equipment and tools will be provided by the hosts.
The Marsh Island cleanup is funded by a Southern New England Environmental Program’s Watershed Implementation Grant awarded to Center for Coastal Studies to conduct marine debris cleanups on inhabited and uninhabited islands in southern Massachusetts.
Provincetown, November 29
Work off the turkey at the TURKEY TRASH TREK held annually at a shoreline on the Outer Cape. A short and sweet cleanup effort, we will collect debris for two hours then tally it after a warm lunch at CCS. Registration will be available at coastalstudies.org/events/
The Center for Coastal Studies Marine Debris & Plastics Program is engaged in studying, removing, documenting, disposing of and educating about marine plastic pollution in many ways. From beach cleanups to derelict fishing gear retrieval and marine debris art projects, the Center is a leader in Massachusetts addressing the issue of plastics in the ocean.