Keep Collier Beautiful (KCB) is proud to share that more than 1,000 registered volunteers came together across Collier County to pick up litter and debris on Saturday, September 19, for the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).
Guided by findings from its annual Community Litter Index, KCB worked with Collier County, the City of Naples, and its partner network to identify cleanup sites where litter and debris tend to collect. The 2026 ICC reached County beaches, canals, parks, and roads, so volunteers could remove litter before it travels into local estuaries and the Gulf.
“Caring for Collier County is a responsibility we all share. When neighbors, students, and local businesses give a morning to pick up litter together, they carry that sense of stewardship home and into every beach, park, and waterway they visit,” said Larry Berg, President of Keep Collier Beautiful.
Volunteers collectively removed more than 3,200 pounds of debris from our coastal areas, waterways, and roadsides. The event logged over 3,000 volunteer service hours and collected more than 400 trash bags of litter from 18 locations:
- Airport Rd Canal by St. John Neumann High School
- Arrowhead Properties by Immokalee High School Key Club
- Barefoot Beach Access led by Rotaract Club of Naples
- Barefoot Beach Preserve led by Friends of Barefoot Beach Preserve
- Bluebill Beach Access by Girl Scout Troop 766
- Big Cypress Boardwalk on US 41 led by Bruce Mcco2026mas
- Clam Pass led by United Way of Collier and the Keys
- Delnor-Wiggins State Park led by Dual South (Delnor-Wiggins Park Ranger)
- Haldeman Creek led by Conservancy of Southwest Florida
- Henderson Creek led by Florida SouthWestern State College
- Isles of Capri led by Luke Larson
- Jolley Bridge by Sea Grant Florida and Rotary Club of Marco Island Sunrise
- Lake Trafford by WastePro and Immokalee High School Key Club
- Pelican Bay by Pelican Bay Foundation
- Naples Pier at Broad Avenue led by FC Naples
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Tigertail Beach led by Friends of Tigertail
- Vanderbilt Beach led by The Healthy Earth Organization
In addition to plastic and glass bottles, cigarette butts, and expected debris, volunteers found unusual items such as shopping cart, truck tire, television, metal pipes, pieces of wood, and concrete bricks. On average, 3.2 pounds of waste were collected per volunteer.
Among the volunteers who took the time and effort to keep the environment healthy were students from local colleges, high schools, and elementary schools, Scout Troops, corporate teams, and civic organizations. Residents of Collier County, of all ages and backgrounds, came together to lend a hand, showing the community’s love and care for the place they call home.
The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup is made possible through the generous support of KCB annual sponsors including the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Collier County Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Division, City of Naples, Walmart, Florida Surfrider’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, Waste Management (WM), Waste Pro, Waste Equip, Cascade, Naples Gulf Shore Rotary Club, Marco Island Area Association of Realtors (MIAAOR), EZPik, C2 Communications, Keep Florida Beautiful, and EK Consulting.
The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup Report
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Cleanup Locations
Impact Numbers
Most Unusual Items Collected
Airport Rd Canal and Arrowhead Properties
Barefoot Beach Access
Barefoot Beach Preserve
Big Cypress Boardwalk
Clam Pass
Delnor-Wiggins State Park and Haldeman Creek
Isles of Capri and Jolley Bridge
Lake Trafford and Naples Pier
Rookery Bay NERR
Tigertail Beach and Vanderbilt Beach
