International Coastal Cleanup planned
Keep Martin Beautiful will coordinate Martin County’s participation in the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 19, joining volunteers worldwide in removing litter from beaches, shorelines and waterways. Last year, local volunteers collected nearly 3,000 pieces of microplastic from county shorelines in a single morning.
For more than three decades, Keep Martin Beautiful has served as Martin County’s local coordinator for the global initiative, mobilizing residents, businesses, schools and civic organizations to protect the coastal resources central to the region’s economy and quality of life.
Each year, more than 1,000 volunteers participate in the cleanup, collecting bottles, food packaging, cigarette butts, plastic foam fragments, discarded fishing line, microplastics and other debris. The waste can move through storm drains and waterways, where it threatens marine life, damages coastal habitats and affects the health of local beaches and estuaries.
“Our beaches and waterways are at the heart of what makes Martin County such a special place to live,” said Tiffany Kincaid, executive director of Keep Martin Beautiful. “The International Coastal Cleanup gives everyone an opportunity to make a real difference. In just one morning, volunteers can create a lasting impact while helping preserve these beautiful places for future generations.”
Volunteers are encouraged to register on the Keep Martin Beautiful website and download the free CleanSwell app before the event. The app allows participants to record the litter they collect, providing data to Keep Martin Beautiful and Ocean Conservancy. The information helps scientists identify pollution trends, guide conservation efforts and develop solutions to reduce marine debris worldwide.
The cleanup is open to volunteers of all ages. First-time and returning participants can help protect Martin County’s coast while taking part in one of the world’s largest volunteer efforts focused on ocean and waterway health.
Keep Martin Beautiful thanked the sponsors supporting the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup, including WM, Martin County, Ashley Capital, Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, CSA Ocean Sciences, Lucido & Associates, Indian Riverkeeper, Ecological Associates, Coastal Waste & Recycling, The Guardians of Martin County, Jenkins Landscape, Live With Grace, Ram Real Estate, Solar Electric Power Company, the city of Stuart and the Firefly Group.
For more information, to register or to sponsor the event, visit keepmartinbeautiful.org or contact Keep Martin Beautiful at 772-781-1222 or info@keepmartinbeautiful.org.
About Keep Martin Beautiful
Keep Martin Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. The organization works to preserve and enhance quality of life in Martin County through litter prevention, recycling promotion, solid waste management improvements, beautification and community revitalization. Its signature events and programs include the Environmental Stewardship Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup, Adopt-A-Road, Adopt-A-Street and other education and outreach initiatives. For more information, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org, find Keep Martin Beautiful on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on X at twitter.com/KMBmartin or call 772-781-1222.
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