This article is proudly brought to you in partnership with the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station.✨

Join us for the 41st Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 19, 2026!

Organized each year by the Ocean Conservancy, the International Coastal Cleanup is one of the world's largest volunteer efforts to remove marine debris. Cedar Key has proudly participated for more than two decades, with volunteers helping protect our coastal habitats while collecting valuable data on the types of litter found in our community.

Check-in: As early as 7:30 a.m.
Cleanup: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Cedar Key City Park

❤️Volunteers will receive a free lunch and a commemorative t-shirt while supplies last.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
No registration is required—simply arrive at Cedar Key City Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. to check in, pick up cleanup supplies, and receive your assigned cleanup area. If you plan to bring a large group (10 or more volunteers), we appreciate advance notice to help us prepare enough supplies. Please contact Emily Colson at [email protected] (optional).

As you collect litter, you'll record the items you find using either the provided paper data cards or the Clean Swell app. We recommend having one person in your group serve as the designated data recorder while others collect trash.

Please bring your own work gloves if possible. Trash bags and data cards will be provided.

To receive a t-shirt, please return your completed data card (or show your completed Clean Swell submission) along with your collected trash. T-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last and will not be distributed before 11:30 a.m.

Many cleanup locations include roadside ditches, marsh edges, muddy areas, and other places where debris tends to accumulate.

The International Coastal Cleanup is about more than removing trash—it's also one of the world's largest citizen science efforts. Every piece of litter that volunteers record helps scientists, resource managers, and policymakers identify pollution trends and better understand where marine debris comes from. The information collected in Cedar Key becomes part of a global database used to guide future cleanup efforts, improve waste management, and develop solutions that prevent marine debris before it reaches our waterways.

Thank you for helping keep Cedar Key's coast clean. We look forward to seeing you on September 19!🌴

Located right on the Gulf in the heart of Cedar Key, the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) is a premier research and education hub dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of Florida’s coastal resources. As part of the University of Florida, the station serves as a bridge between world-class marine science and our local community. Through collaborative research, hands-on public workshops, and student training, NCBS plays a vital role in protecting the vast seagrass meadows, critical wildlife habitats, and unique ecosystems that make the Nature Coast so special.