Over 1,554 kg of litter and debris collected during 2026 International Coastal Cleanup

GREAT BAY--Approximately 400 volunteers and students took part in the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) across St. Maarten and French Saint-Martin, collecting more than 1,554 kilograms of litter and debris from beaches, coastlines, waterways and surrounding areas over three days.

The total does not include larger debris that could not easily be weighed, including pallets, furniture, vehicle and vessel parts. Organizers reported that single-use plastics and foam products were among the most common items collected throughout the weekend.

The activities began Friday in Philipsburg, where 96 students from Oranje School, Leonard Conner School and Charlotte Brookson Academy cleaned the beach and boardwalk. In just one hour, the students removed 123 kilograms of trash.

On Saturday morning, an estimated 200 volunteers spread out across Little Bay Beach and Pond, cleaning the beach, pond, roadside and surrounding areas. The group collected 691 kilograms of litter, excluding heavier debris that was also removed.

The volume of waste was so large that the metal garbage container provided by Meadowlands was completely filled and a second container had to be brought in.

Beyond the amount of litter collected, organizers said the cleanup highlighted wider environmental concerns around Little Bay.

Volunteers observed what organizers described as an increase in construction debris being dumped toward the beach, as well as filling and debris obstructing sections of the public beach near Little Bay Pond.

Several vehicle wrecks were also found among the mangroves.

Organizers expressed concern about the impact of such activity on public access to beaches, noting that reduced access to coastlines has become an issue in several Caribbean destinations as development expands.

The ICC continued Sunday at Anse des Sables/La Belle Creole on the French side, where more than 90 volunteers, including underwater teams, cleaned the coastline and surrounding area. The group collected 119 bags of waste weighing approximately 740 kilograms.

Participating teams and organizations included the Police Department, Teen Times, Learning Unlimited School, Grant Thornton, the Dutch Representative Office, National Recovery Program Bureau, World Bank, St. Maarten Development Foundation, Belair Community, IGY Marinas and Carib Swim Team, among others.

Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs also participated in the cleanup activities.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a global initiative led by Ocean Conservancy, bringing together volunteers in more than 120 countries each year to remove waste from beaches, oceans and waterways while recording information about the debris collected.

Throughout the weekend, volunteers used Ocean Conservancy's Clean Swell app and data cards to record the types of waste found. The information can help support waste-management policies, anti-littering efforts, public education, recycling initiatives and marine conservation.

At Little Bay, commonly recorded items included glass beverage bottles, plastic beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic grocery bags, cigarette butts and beverage cans.

Nearly 47% of all recorded items at Little Bay were identifiable single-use plastic or foam products, including plastic bottles, bags, cups, food containers, wrappers, straws and utensils.

Plastic waste also dominated the collection on the French side, with plastic bags, beverage bottles and grocery bags among the most commonly recorded items. Organizers said the findings again demonstrate the importance of reducing dependence on harmful single-use products and moving toward more sustainable alternatives.

The 2026 cleanup was a collaborative effort involving the St. Maarten Pride Foundation, Clean St. Martin Association, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean Foundation (EPIC), St. Maarten Nature Foundation, St. Maarten Development Fund, Saint Martin Trails and Les Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM).

Organizers also recognized schools and other organizations that arranged their own community cleanup activities, including St. Maarten Academy.

Special recognition was given to Tim Roosens for leading this year's ICC and helping coordinate the participating organizations, volunteers and activities. Roosens is also involved in year-round cleanup efforts and organizes monthly cleanups on French Saint-Martin through the Clean St. Martin Association.

Organizers thanked the businesses and organizations that provided refreshments, supplies and prizes for volunteers, including LVMO Sarl, Meadowlands, Domino's Pizza, Gelateria Milano, Perpetual Plastics/EPIC, the Scuba Shop, Tri-Sport, Rainforest Adventures, Ocean Explorers, Nature Foundation, Heavenly Water, Grant Thornton, Top 1 Toys, Martijn Trading, Carrefour and Super U.

They also extended appreciation to the volunteers who participated in multiple cleanups during the weekend and to everyone who donated, coordinated or otherwise contributed to the 2026 activities.

The organizers said the collective effort contributed toward cleaner coastlines and a healthier environment for both St. Maarten and French Saint-Martin.

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