🌍 International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025: Why It Matters and What We Learned in Kilifi
- Siana Phillips
- Oct 1
- 5 min read
Every September, people around the world come together for International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) — the largest global volunteer effort to protect our oceans and waterways. This year, Ocean Sole joined the movement with a powerful cleanup in Kilifi, Kenya. Together with our partners CMA CGM and Green Heart Kilifi, we removed 529 kilograms of waste from the beach in just one day.
In this blog, we’ll answer the most common questions people ask about ICC and share what we found on Kenya’s coast. Thank you to
🌊 A Brief History of International Coastal Cleanup®
The International Coastal Cleanup® began more than 35 years ago, when communities first rallied together with a common goal: to collect and document the trash littering their coastlines.
The movement was catalyzed by two passionate individuals: Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara. In 1986, Linda had just moved to Texas from Washington, D.C., where she worked for Ocean Conservancy. Her colleague Kathy O’Hara was at that time working on a groundbreaking report, Plastics in the Ocean: More than a Litter Problem, which shed light on the dangers of marine plastic pollution.
Inspired, Linda and Kathy partnered with the Texas General Land Office, local businesses, and dedicated ocean lovers to organize the very first cleanup. Importantly, they asked volunteers not only to pick up trash, but also to record each item collected on standardized data cards. This innovation turned a local cleanup into a global data-driven movement — identifying patterns of pollution and helping policymakers and communities worldwide understand how to reduce waste at its source.
Since that first event, the ICC has grown into a global movement in more than 150 countries, with millions of volunteers removing hundreds of millions of pounds of trash.
What is the purpose of International Coastal Cleanup Day?
The purpose of ICC is simple yet urgent: to remove trash from our coasts and raise awareness about marine pollution. Every piece of litter collected is recorded, helping researchers and policymakers understand global waste patterns.
For Ocean Sole, ICC is about more than one day. It’s a reminder that every flip-flop, bottle, and bag collected keeps our oceans cleaner, our turtles safer, and our communities healthier.
What is the theme of the International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025?
The global theme for ICC 2025 is “Harnessing the Power of Communities”. It emphasizes that local action can create global change — exactly what we saw in Kilifi, where volunteers, families, students, and sponsors came together to restore the shoreline.
What is the aim of World Cleanup Day?
World Cleanup Day (which coincides with ICC) aims to:
Unite millions of volunteers worldwide under one mission.
Collect data on waste types to tackle pollution at its source.
Build awareness and behavioral change — encouraging people to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
For Ocean Sole, it’s also about linking art and action: the flip-flops we collect become sculptures that tell the story of conservation.
How many times is World Cleanup Day held?
World Cleanup Day happens once a year, usually in September. However, many organizations — including Ocean Sole — continue with weekly or monthly cleanups throughout the year to keep up momentum.
What is the theme of World Cleanup Day 2025?
World Cleanup Day 2025 shares the same call as ICC: community power for global impact. From Nairobi to New York, communities are proving that local solutions can fight one of the world’s biggest problems: ocean plastic pollution.
How many days can cleanup can be done?
While ICC is celebrated once annually, cleanups can and should happen anytime. Ocean Sole’s teams — including the Ocean Mamaz and local fishermen — carry out weekly cleanups on Kenya’s coast, ensuring that ICC is just one highlight in an ongoing movement.
What to avoid after cleanup?
After a cleanup, it’s important to avoid:
Improper waste disposal: Collected trash must go to licensed facilities, recyclers, or upcycling projects (like Ocean Sole’s).
One-time engagement: A single cleanup helps, but long-term commitment changes systems.
Leaving behind collection tools or bags — they can become waste themselves.
Ocean Sole ensures that all plastics are sorted: hard plastics are sold to recyclers, flip-flops are upcycled into art, and non-recyclables are responsibly disposed of.
What are the steps of cleanup?
A successful cleanup includes:
Organizing teams (volunteers, local groups, schools).
Providing tools (bags, gloves, protective gear).
Collecting and recording all waste.
Sorting waste by category.
Creating art work from waste - advocating change
Disposing or upcycling responsibly.
Sharing results to raise awareness.
Kilifi Cleanup Results – September 2025
During this year’s ICC in Kilifi, Ocean Sole and volunteers collected 529 kilograms of waste. Here’s the breakdown:
Plastic bottles – 176 kg
Flip-flops – 97 kg
Textiles – 65 kg
Shoes (non-flip-flop) – 58 kg
Glass – 43 kg
Fishing nets & gear – 35 kg
Other mixed waste – 55 kg
Most Offensive Item: Plastic bottles once again topped the list, making up a staggering 176 kg of the total waste. These single-use plastics not only pollute coastlines but also break down into microplastics that harm marine life.
💙 Thank You to Our Partners
This effort would not have been possible without the support of:
CMA CGM – global shipping leaders investing in a cleaner ocean future.
Green Heart Kilifi – a local partner deeply rooted in conservation and community impact.
And of course, the volunteers, students, and families who showed up to protect the beaches they love.
🌊 Final Thought: From Trash to Transformation
International Coastal Cleanup Day is not just about collecting trash — it’s about building a movement. At Ocean Sole, we transform what we collect into bold sculptures that spark conversation, fund jobs, and remind the world that waste can become wonder.
Together, we removed 529 kg in Kilifi. Together, we can create flip-flop free oceans.
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