Oregon Beach Cleanup Unites Thousands This September

Thousands of volunteers are gearing up to protect Oregon's beaches and rivers during a 10-day cleanup event that proves environmental action starts right in your neighborhood.

SOLVE's annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup returns September 18-27, connecting communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington in a shared mission to remove litter and restore waterways. Registration is now open for anyone wanting to join the effort.

The event tackles a simple truth: litter doesn't stay put. Rain and runoff carry trash from streets and parks into storm drains, then streams, then rivers, eventually reaching the ocean. Stopping pollution means taking action at every point along that journey.

"Protecting our waterways starts in the communities where we live, work and play," said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. "Every piece of litter we prevent from entering a storm drain is one less piece that can travel downstream."

For four decades, this cleanup has brought neighbors together to care for the places they know best. This year's event includes coastal beaches in six counties, downtown streets in Bend and Milwaukie, and Vancouver's Waterfront Park.

The timing connects with global efforts too. Coastal cleanups align with International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, while other events honor National Public Lands Day and World Rivers Day later in the month.

Two returning favorites, Pick It Up, Milwaukie! and Pick It Up, Bend!, are back for their second year. These large-scale community cleanups proved so popular in 2025 that organizers brought them back bigger. Milwaukie volunteers will clean downtown corridors before joining a Sustainability Fair, while Bend participants will focus on the Old Mill District.

Vancouver's Clean & Green series offers multiple chances to restore parks and natural areas. SOLVE has even set up a supply hub there, making it easier for local leaders to organize their own volunteer projects.

The Ripple Effect

Every volunteer who picks up litter in their neighborhood park is protecting beaches miles away. The cleanup shows how connected we all are through the water that flows from our streets to the sea.

Families, schools, businesses and community groups can all find projects that fit their interests and locations. Whether you're removing debris from a coastal beach or restoring a riverside trail, you're part of a network of care stretching across the entire region.

The event brings together sponsors including Clean Water Services, Metro, Oregon State Parks & Recreation, and local businesses who recognize that healthy waterways mean healthy communities. Since 1969, SOLVE has grown from a small grassroots initiative into a national model of volunteer environmental action.

Registration and full event details are available at solveoregon.org, where you can find a cleanup near you or learn how to organize your own.