Plastic and other forms of manufactured solid waste are a real problem for our waterways. More than just unsightly, marine debris creates problems for fish and wildlife. Through ingestion, strangulation, entrapment and injury, marine debris kills and injures thousands of animals every year. Due to the long life of these products, litter and debris will continue to harm the environment until someone comes along to clean up the mess. Puget Soundkeeper conducts multiple cleanup events every year, involving hundreds of volunteers from the community. Focusing on waterways and shorelines, volunteers clean beaches, paddle kayaks to find trash in hard to reach spots, and tow large debris safely to shore with larger boats.
Volunteering as an individual? Click the button below to view our upcoming cleanup events.
Volunteering with your colleagues? Click the button below if your workplace is interested in organizing a cleanup activity for a team-building day of service!
Cleanups are open to everyone and only require a willingness to get dirty. Soundkeeper will provide trash bags, grabbers, and gloves and will help properly dispose of trash when finished.
Interested in planning a cleanup with your friends, neighbors, or community group? Puget Soundkeeper can support you with the necessary tools and expertise. Click the button below to contact Volunteer Coordinator Elif Myers.
Want to plan ahead?
Mark your calendar for these annual events:
Seattle Summer Cleanup Series
The Seattle Summer Cleanup Series has contributed to our collection of over 185,000 pounds of marine debris throughout Puget Sound’s freshwater tributaries. Each year, volunteers comb Lake Washington, Lake Union, and the Duwamish River to care for our shared waters. Join us for our 2023 Seattle Summer Cleanup Series! Learn more and register here: Seattle Summer Cleanup Series.
International Coastal Cleanup
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a global annual cleanup project dedicated to cleaning up trash from our waters. Puget Soundkeeper acts as a regional coordinator helping to organize and support cleanup efforts throughout the Puget Sound area. At each cleanup, every piece of trash is cataloged and added to a “Global Trash Index”. In our region alone, hundreds of volunteers participate and collect thousands of pounds of debris. Read the 2021 Puget Sound Cleanup Trash Report here.
Please keep a lookout for information about ICC 2023, including dates, beach locations, and Beach Captain recruitment.