Keep Collier Beautiful is pleased to share that over 1,200 registered volunteers flocked to Collier County’s beaches, canals, and lakes to protect the community’s environment by picking up litter and debris on September 20 for the 2025 International Coastal Cleanup.
In a response to results from its 2025 Litter Index Report, Keep Collier Beautiful made a strong push to address pollution at its source. The organization worked closely with the Big Cypress Basin to identify key areas, confirm volunteers and mobilize cleanup efforts during the international event.
“We are pleased to see more grassroots support showing up, with local businesses rallying team members for a fun and impactful morning. This year’s event logged more than 3,800 volunteer service hours to collect 4,100 pounds of trash from our waterways,” said Larry Berg, president of Keep Collier Beautiful.
Volunteers participated across multiple beach and canal cleanup sites, collectively removing more than 4,100 pounds of debris from our coastal areas and waterways from 20 locations:
- Arrowhead Properties
- Barefoot Beach Access
- Barefoot Beach Preserve
- Bluebird Beach Access
- Clam Pass
- Delnor-Wiggins State Park
- Haldeman Creek
- Jolley Bridge
- Lake Trafford
- Lowdermilk Park
- Moorings and Park Shore
- Naples Pier
- Pelican Bay
- Rookery Bay
- Tigertail Beach
- Vanderbilt Beach
- 951 Canal
- Airport Rd Canal (North)
- Airport Rd Canal (South)
- Henderson Creek
In addition to plastic and glass bottles, cigarette buts, and expected debris, volunteers found unusual items such as a large kitchen knife, jugs of oil, bicycle tires, baby car seats, metal pipes, and multiple folding tables. On average, 3.28 pounds of waste were collected per volunteer.
The 2025 ICC is made possible through the generous support of KCB annual sponsors including FDOT, Collier County, City of Naples, Florida Surfn Foundation, Walmart Foundation, Waste Management, Waste Pro, Waste Equip, Cascade, CrowderGulf LLC, Lilly Pulitzer, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Naples South, Marco Island Area Association of Realtors (MIAAOR), C2 Communications, and EK Consulting.
Download the full 2025 International Coastal Cleanup report here.
