Center for Coastal Studies Announces September-October 2025 Marine Debris Activities

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) will host several marine debris cleanup opportunities in September and October. Volunteers are invited to join shoreline cleanups on Cape Cod and in Boston and to participate in the debris data collection and documentation.

BOSTON AREA
Leading off the September calendar is a four-day “adventure cleanup” in Boston Harbor. Following on the success of the Great Boston Harbor Island Cleanup in 2024, CCS is partnering with MA Department of Conservation & Recreation to address debris on Peddocks Island. Volunteers may join the PEDDOCKS ISLAND CLEANUP for single day trips or for the full four-day adventure on September 14, 15, 16 or 17, 2025. Day trip volunteers will depart by boat from Hingham at 7:30am and return the same day by 5pm. Registration for day trips is required at the MA DCR webpage. Volunteers interested in spending overnights on the island should reach out to CCS directly, as space is limited.

Throughout the four days, volunteers will work with CCS and MA DCR to collect, sort and document the marine debris found on Peddocks Island. All items will be recycled, upcycled or disposed of properly.

PROVINCETOWN
The Center’s annual COASTSWEEP, now in its 17^th year, will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 9am-11am. Volunteers will meet at MacMillan Pier for free Flyer’s shuttle service to Long Point.  Debris will be tallied for inclusion in the International Coastal Cleanup global database. Space is limited and registration is required.

CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
On October 17-20, 2025, the Center for Coastal Studies will host its 10^th 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.
Registration for both the cleanup and tally is required, and additional details will be sent following registration.

LAST YEAR’S NUMBERS
In 2024, 188 Beach Brigade volunteers conducted 18 cleanups on Cape Cod, Cuttyhunk and Boston islands, removing and disposing of over 60,000 pounds of landed trash. “I like to say that here in New England, ‘we clean clean beaches’ — and yet we invariably remove tons of debris, much of it plastic,” says Laura Ludwig, CCS Marine Debris & Plastics Program Director. “The hundreds of Beach Brigade volunteers and our other amazing collaborators are what made that possible!”

Last year, Beach Brigade volunteers sorted and inventoried 98,940 pieces of marine debris and found the following top 10 debris items:

The Center for Coastal Studies Marine Debris & Plastics Program is engaged in studying, removing, 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 the leader on Cape Cod addressing this issue.