Ocean debris kills nearly one million sea creatures every single year.
Saving dolphins and whales is about more than just ending the captivity trade. Empty the Tanks believes that ocean conservation is just as vital to the survival of all cetaceans. We must provide a clean habitat for dolphins, whales, and all ocean creatures to thrive in. We have polluted our oceans and now it is time for us to take global responsibility to help restore them.
Please join Empty the Tanks as we clean up our oceans and shores.
Clean oceans for free dolphins.
“Beach” cleanups can take place anywhere! You don’t have to live along a coast to help keep our oceans clean. Every piece of plastic and debris that you clean up is one less that can find its way into a waterway and potentially entangle and harm marine life. Cleanups can take place at a beach next to the ocean, at a park, a river, or just around your local town.
Get your friends and family together and make it an afternoon dedicated to cleaning up our world. Be sure and post your photos and tag us so we can feature them as well. If you decide to organize a beach clean up in your area and you would like us to share your event page with others, please send us the link.
Please socially distance and follow your local guidelines.
How to get started planning your beach cleanup:
- Pick a park, shoreline or beach that you want to focus your clean up on. Be sure and visit the area ahead of time to make sure it is dirty and in need of cleaning
- Contact your city parks department, local state park, or whichever government body is responsible for that location. Tell them you would like to plan a public beach clean up and if there is anything you need from them in order to do so. Be sure to also inquire about:
- What do they want you to do with the collected trash? Some locations have dumpsters, while others will ask that you put the collected rubbish next to a designated trash can or cans.
- Do they have recycle bins? And if so, what items are allowed to be placed in them?
- Ask about volunteer waiver forms and if they require them for events and cleanups.
- If you are participating in the Annual Cleanup Event please aim to do your event on that specific day/weekend. We suggest doing a 2 hour event at most so people don’t get tired.
- Make a Facebook event page and email the link to [email protected] so we can add it to our list.
- Please make sure it is PUBLIC (private event links cannot be shared)
- Ensure your date, time, and meeting location is clearly stated.
- An event banner image is available for your use, and can be emailed to you upon request.
- When you scout the location before the event, take the time to find nearby parking options as well as a meeting spot for your attendees, and include that information on your event page.
- Make note of any dangerous areas or if the location is home to nesting animals or other wildlife species. ** Please share this information with any volunteers that come to your event. **
- Be sure to invite your friends and family, the local schools or churches, and anyone else in the community you think would be interested in attending.
- Promotion: Make some flyers to advertise your event and post them in local shops or community boards. Be sure to include the date, time, location, and your contact information on it. It is also good to include any supplies you want each person to bring.
- Ask event volunteers to bring water (in a reusable bottle), sunscreen, a small snack and anything else they might need. If you want to provide snacks and drinks for your volunteers we suggest natural foods like fruit to limit the amount of extra trash that is brought into the site. You can also bring a large container of water that volunteers can fill their bottles with.
- Please be mindful of the weather the day of the event. Encourage the attendees to dress properly for the weather. ** IF IT IS A HOT DAY, PLEASE ASK THAT COMPANION ANIMALS BE LEFT AT HOME, FOR THEIR SAFETY & COMFORT. **
Get your supplies ready!
- Encourage those attending to bring their own buckets or old tote bags and reusable gloves if they can. Gardening or work gloves work great for beach cleanups. There are inexpensive buckets available at most local hardware stores and gloves and mesh strainers can be found at most dollar stores.
- Here are a few supplies you will want to get together for the big day:
- A first aid kit in case anyone gets hurt
- buckets for the trash or reusable cloth bags
- reusable gloves
- mesh strainers to sift out the small pieces of trash from the sand/dirt
- a few garbage bags to combine all the trash for hauling to garbage cans or dumpsters at the end of your event
- a tarp or large drop cloth (this will give you place to dump all the collected trash and sort it out and/or take pictures.
- extra reef-safe sunscreen
- a table and sunshade or tent if you would like to set up a sign in area
- clipboards & pens if you need waivers signed by volunteers
- a fun sign to welcome everyone and let them know where to sign in and get their instructions
- If possible please consider at least taking a counting of the number of plastic bottles, straws, and bottles caps that your group collects. Let us know if you find any other unique and interesting things along the beach too. This information helps us create outreach materials to educate the public about ocean pollution.
- After you have finished your cleanup please try to sort out the recyclable items from the trash and place them in designated bins.
- Take pictures! Pictures are what encourages others to follow your conservation example!
Last, but not least – remember to have FUN! Take care of our oceans and marine life can be very rewarding so enjoy the day!
Thank you again for doing your part to help clean up our oceans, parks, and shorelines!
Other Ways To Help All Year Long
Bring a bucket or tote bag with you when you go to the park, river, beach, or anywhere outdoors. This way you can collect any trash you might find and help leave the space clean and safe for wildlife. Post your photos on social media using #globalbeachcleanup
If you are attending or planning a gathering outdoors with family and friends be sure to have a way to collect any trash. This will keep items like wrappers or napkins from flying away and adding to the trash found in nature.