Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches the 2026 COASTSWEEP Season

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that Saturday, September 19, is the official kickoff of the 2026 COASTSWEEP beach cleanup season. All are encouraged to volunteer at dozens of shoreline cleanups through November. Organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) since 1987, COASTSWEEP has welcomed more than 114,500 volunteers and removed 1.4 million pounds of trash from Massachusetts beaches, lakes, rivers, and the seafloor.

“Massachusetts has over 1,500 miles of coastline that provide important habitat for wildlife and places for residents to enjoy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “After a busy summer, COASTSWEEP is an opportunity to get outside, give back, and help keep our beaches clean.”

“Thank you to all of our dedicated COASTSWEEP volunteers who not only clear trash from our beaches but collect data as part of an international effort to determine the sources of marine debris,” said CZM Director Alison Brizius “With this information, we know that much of the trash on our beaches actually comes from the land and is washed to the nearest water body. So along with joining a COASTSWEEP cleanup, we can all help keep our coast clean by properly disposing of trash wherever we are.”

COASTSWEEP is part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, which draws hundreds of thousands of volunteers to cleanups in 108 countries worldwide. As part of this international effort, COASTSWEEP volunteers tally the trash and other marine debris they collect. This information is entered into Ocean Conservancy’s marine debris database, where it helps researchers and policymakers better understand the sources of global marine debris and develop solutions for prevention.

The marine debris collected through COASTSWEEP is more than an eyesore. It poses serious threats to wildlife and humans. Animals can become entangled in or choke on debris, and tiny pieces of plastic enter the water column and food chain. People can also step on sharp objects on the beach and boat propellors can get jammed.

During COASTSWEEP 2025, 3,287 volunteers removed nearly 47,500 pounds of trash from more than 200 sites, with a total of 60,700 pieces of marine debris collected along Massachusetts shorelines. As in past years, cigarette butts were the most common item found (10,553 total), followed by glass pieces (8,673). Thousands of plastic items were also removed and recorded—including plastic and foam pieces, foam cups and plates, food wrappers, bottles and caps, straws, and plastic lids—for a total of 16,429 plastic items tallied.

A great way to get involved in COASTSWEEP is to organize a cleanup. All supplies (bags, gloves, data cards, pencils, etc.) are provided free of charge, and cleanups can be scheduled at your convenience. Cleanup coordinators also get a t-shirt as a thank you! Everyone is also welcome to volunteer at a scheduled cleanup. To organize or join a cleanup, check out the COASTSWEEP website or email coastsweep@mass.gov.

COASTSWEEP 2026 sponsors are the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Office of Coastal Zone Management, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Ocean Conservancy, and Tronex, a personal protective equipment company that provided gloves for the cleanups.

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance, and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities address the challenges of storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change; working with state, regional, and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development; and partnering with communities and other organizations to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats.

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