Oregon Coast Cleanup Seeks More Leaders for September Event

When 667 volunteers showed up on July 5 and hauled away 7,393 pounds of trash from Oregon beaches, they proved that coastal communities are ready to protect their shoreline. Now SOLVE wants to help even more people take action.

The conservation group is reaching out early to Oregon coast residents, businesses, and community groups ahead of its annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup from September 18 to 27. They're looking for people willing to host local cleanup projects during that window.

Here's what makes this invitation special: you don't need any experience. SOLVE provides all the supplies, handles permits, helps with volunteer registration, and guides new leaders through the process. It's designed to be straightforward for first-timers.

"We're especially focused on building up the number of projects before we do the larger volunteer-facing push, so people have more opportunities to choose from," said Stefanie Wich-Herrlein from SOLVE. The organization wants cleanup sites ready before announcing the event to the general public in a few weeks.

The September effort includes International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, connecting Oregon volunteers to a global movement protecting coastlines from pollution. The cleanup spans beaches, rivers, and waterways across Oregon and Southwest Washington, tackling everything from litter and marine debris to invasive species.

SOLVE especially hopes to see more southern Oregon coast communities get involved. Past cleanups have had fewer meeting areas in that region, creating gaps in coverage where trash can accumulate unchecked.

The Ripple Effect

Each local cleanup leader creates a ripple of positive change. When someone steps forward to host a project, they give dozens of volunteers in their community a chance to make a difference close to home. Those volunteers inspire friends and family who see their work. Beach visitors notice cleaner shores and often join future efforts.

The July cleanup showed this ripple in action across 18 sites. Communities that organized their own cleanups created gathering points for environmental action, turning individual concern into collective impact.

Coastal residents who can't lead a project still have options. They can join an existing cleanup once the full schedule launches, or help spread the word to friends and neighbors who might want to host. Every role matters in keeping Oregon's coastline healthy.

Anyone interested in leading a cleanup can sign up at solveoregon.org/beach-riverside, where they'll find resources and support to make their first cleanup a success.