More Than 610 Wexford Volunteers Remove 3.7 Tonnes of Litter in Big Beach Clean

More than 610 volunteers across County Wexford have removed an estimated 3.7 tonnes of litter from the county's beaches, coastline, towns, villages and inland waterways.

The volunteers took part in this year's Big Beach Clean, organised by Clean Coasts between September 18th and 20th.

They were among almost 9,700 volunteers across all 26 counties who organised around 500 clean-ups during September.

Nationally, the combined efforts resulted in an estimated 58 tonnes of marine litter being removed from Ireland's coastal and inland areas.

There were a number of major clean-up efforts across County Wexford.

In Courtown, the Courtown Riverchapel Development Group was joined by members of the local community and Coast Guard members for a six-kilometre clean-up across seven beaches along the Wexford coast.

In Campile, the Campile Area Development Group worked alongside local Ballykelly Scouts. They collected ten bags of litter, along with larger items including garden chairs, fishing-related waste and plastic drums.

At White Hole Beach near Kilmore, the Tomhaggard Clean Coasts group was joined by Kilmore Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, leaders and parents.

Dozens of volunteers collected approximately 128 kilos of waste in less than an hour.

Among the items recovered were two pallets, bricks, a fishing basket, two lobster pots, a paint tray, two buoys and a large quantity of rope.

The Big Beach Clean is held each year to mark the end of Ireland's bathing season and coincides with the International Coastal Cleanup, a global citizen-science initiative led internationally by Ocean Conservancy.

As well as removing litter, volunteers record the types and quantities of waste they find. The information contributes to marine-litter data that can help inform future policies and actions.

Clean Coasts says the most common litter items recorded during last year's Big Beach Clean included fishing-related waste, cigarette butts and plastic pieces.

The organisation says marine litter isn't just a coastal issue, with waste from inland communities able to reach rivers, waterways and eventually the sea.

The European Environment Agency estimates that around 80% of marine litter originates from land-based activities.

The 2026 Big Beach Clean was supported by Kia Ireland, with additional support for the Clean Coasts programme from the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment and An Taisce's National Spring Clean programme.

Clean Coasts Programme Manager Bronagh Moore thanked the thousands of volunteers who took part, saying their efforts are making a tangible difference in keeping beaches clean and protecting marine life.

The organisation is encouraging people to remain involved with their local Clean Coasts groups and community clean-up initiatives throughout the year