Almost 100 volunteers in Kildare took part in Big Beach Clean 2026
An estimated 580 kilograms of litter were removed from the county's towns, villages, coastline and inland waterways during the latest Big Beach Clean weekend
Almost 100 volunteers in County Kildare took part in the most recent Big Beach Clean.
According to a representative for An Taisce, these volunteers removed an estimated 580 kilograms of litter from the county's towns, villages, coastline and inland waterways during the Big Beach Clean 2026 weekend.
The rep added: “In total, an estimated more than 58 tonnes of marine litter was removed during the Big Beach Clean, thanks to the incredible efforts of 9,700 volunteers who rallied from coast to coast across all 26 counties for this annual call to action.”
They also asserted that the Big Beach Clean 2026 ‘once again showcased the incredible commitment of volunteers’ across Ireland, including those from coastal counties and those further inland.
The volunteers were made up of people from local schools, community associations and tidy towns groups.
CITIZEN SCIENCE ACTION
Held to mark the end of the Irish bathing season, and to coincide with the International Coastal Cleanup by Ocean Conservancy, the Big Beach Clean took place from September 18 last until September 20 last.
The event combines beach-cleaning with a global citizen science action, in an attempt to record data on the quantities and categories of litter items found along our shores.
The three most common litter items removed during the Big Beach Clean weekend last year included fishing related waste, cigarette butts and plastic pieces.
Furthermore, the European Environment Agency says that approximately 80 per cent of marine litter comes from land-based activities, which means that litter from Ireland’s inland villages, estates, towns and cities can end up polluting our inland waterways, seas and ocean.
Bronagh Moore, a member of An Taisce and a programme manager for Clean Coasts, said: “Once again, it was great to see thousands of volunteers show up across the country to support the Big Beach Clean.
“Together, we are making a tangible difference in keeping our beaches clean and in protecting our marine life.
“We thank every one of them for their contribution as well as the local councils that support them; thanks also to Kia Ireland for supporting the Big Beach Clean and to the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment for their continued sponsorship of the Clean Coasts programme.”
Ms Moore concluded by encouraging members of the public to ‘stay involved and keep active in their local Clean Coasts Group and in their communities’.