Because Everything Matters
On September 19th, 2026, people around the world will head to beaches, rivers, lakes, parks, and waterways for International Coastal Cleanup Day—a global effort to remove trash from our environment and protect the ocean and the wildlife that depends on it.
Some volunteers will collect hundreds of pounds of debris. Others may fill a single bag.
Some might simply pick up a few pieces of trash they notice during a walk on the beach.
Every one of those actions matters
At Turtley Yours Foundation, we believe conservation doesn’t always begin with a huge undertaking. Sometimes it begins when you notice something that doesn’t belong.
• A bottle cap in the sand.
• A piece of fishing line near the water.
• A plastic wrapper caught in the sea oats.
And instead of walking past it, you pick it up.
What Happens on Land Doesn’t Always Stay on Land
Marine debris doesn’t have to be left directly on the beach to eventually reach the ocean.
Trash dropped along streets, parking lots, parks, and neighborhoods can be carried by wind or stormwater into drains, canals, rivers, and eventually the sea. Once there, it can become a hazard for wildlife. Sea turtles, seabirds, fish, and other marine animals can become entangled in discarded fishing line, rope (we call this “ghost gear”), plastic bags, and other debris. Animals can also mistake pieces of plastic for food. In fact, a sea turtle may mistake a plastic bag for a jellyfish, a seabird may scoop up tiny pieces of plastic with its food, and a fish may swallow plastic floating in the water—all by accident. In fact, a large scientific study of more than 10,000 marine animals found plastic inside nearly half of the sea turtles, more than one-third of the seabirds, and about one in eight marine mammals examined.¹
That means protecting the ocean can begin miles away from the shoreline.
The Cleanup Is Only Part of the Story
One of the most valuable parts of International Coastal Cleanup isn’t simply removing trash—it’s learning what we’re finding. When volunteers record the types of debris they collect, those individual observations become data. Together, they help scientists, conservation organizations, and communities better understand the problem of marine debris and work toward solutions.
That’s citizen science in action. And for children, a cleanup can become something even bigger. A child picking up a bottle cap isn’t just cleaning a beach. They’re observing their environment. They’re asking questions. They’re beginning to understand how something as small as a piece of plastic can affect an entire ecosystem. And they’re discovering something we hope every child learns: Their actions have an impact.
Take the Everything Matters Challenge
This International Coastal Cleanup Day, Turtley Yours Foundation challenges you to do something simple:
Pick up what you can. Notice what you find. Think about where it may have come from. Then look for one way you can help prevent it from getting there again.
• Bring a reusable water bottle.
• Skip an unnecessary piece of single-use plastic.
• Secure your trash so it can’t blow away.
• Properly dispose of fishing line.
• Join a community cleanup—or simply clean up the place where you already are.
Remember: You don’t have to save the whole ocean tomorrow. You just have to care for your little piece of it. Because one piece of trash removed is one piece that can’t become marine debris. One person taking action can inspire another.And thousands of small actions can become something enormous.
Conservation Begins With Wonder
At Turtley Yours Foundation, our mission is to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through storytelling, hands-on experiences, and accessible educational resources that help children and families fall in love with the natural world.
We believe conservation begins with wonder.
Wonder sparks curiosity.
Curiosity leads to understanding.
Understanding creates appreciation.
And appreciation inspires protection.
A beach cleanup may seem like one small act. But small acts are where change begins.
Everything matters. Every action matters. And every one of us can help protect the places—and wildlife—we love.
Keep Exploring. Keep Wondering. Keep Protecting.
International Coastal Cleanup is organized by Ocean Conservancy. Learn more, find a cleanup, or discover other ways to participate through Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.
Turtley Yours Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards through conservation education, storytelling, and hands-on experiences.
¹ Roman, L., et al. (2025). A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2415492122.
