Eco & Environment | Posted on April 21st, 2026 | return to news

Record-breaking beach clean for Dorset

The Great Dorset Beach Clean encompassed 21 beaches, and so far 628kg of rubbish has been recorded as being removed from beaches.

More rubbish than ever was collected at the recent Great Dorset Beach Clean.

A total of 21 beach cleans took place across the county, with 346 volunteers taking part, collectively removing 628kg of rubbish from beaches, exceeding last year’s total of 330kg. With a number of beach cleans yet to be recorded, the final figures are expected to rise even further.

Emma Jackson, Litter Free Dorset project support officer, said: “Surpassing last year’s figures is a real achievement and reflects the growing momentum behind the Great Dorset Beach Clean. We’re grateful to everyone who gave their time to make such a positive difference on our coastline.”

Each beach clean was led by dedicated local community groups and organisations. Volunteer coordinators included Bowleaze Beach Care Group, Clean Jurassic Coast, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Dorset Diving Services, Lewco Holdings, Kingston Country Courtyard, Nimsdai Foundation, Turn Lyme Green, West Bay Discovery Centre, and Yoga with Leah Miles.

There was also a significant increase in company and business involvement, with organisations using the event as an opportunity for staff team days focused on environmental action. Private cleans were organised by Cefas, DDC Dolphin Ltd, Dorset Council teams, the Environment Agency, and NatWest Bank.

The event attracted a strong mix of experienced volunteers and people taking part in a beach clean for the very first time. One family described their beach clean as a positive and rewarding experience. Despite the blustery conditions, the event provided an opportunity to enjoy time outdoors whilst doing something meaningful.

Volunteers removed a wide variety of marine and beach litter. The most commonly found items included food packaging, bottles, cans, and fishing line, alongside more unexpected finds such as clothing, a fire extinguisher, and even children’s bikes. Several cleans also focused on microplastics, with volunteers painstakingly sorting and counting items, including an impressive 596 nurdles (small plastic pellets) collected during the Dorset Diving Services beach clean at Holes Bay. Wherever possible, teams supported recycling efforts, carefully sorting collected materials to ensure they were processed responsibly.