Saturday September 20th, 2025 from 9am-noon
What is ICC and why it matters:
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is, as the name describes, a world wide cleanup initiative through the Ocean Conservancy. Every year, hundreds of volunteers collect thousands of pounds of trash from Lake Erie’s shoreline in Erie County, PA as part of the ICC. Your efforts make a real impact in keeping our waterways clean and wildlife safe. Whether you’re a first time volunteer or a returning site coordinator, your contribution helps ensure a cleaner future for our community and natural resources. Erie County has participated in the ICC for 22 years!
How it Works:
ICC is more than just a cleanup. It is data. Volunteers track litter collected using this data card or the Clean Swell app to report your findings. Members from Keep Erie County Beautiful then record all the data and report to the Ocean Conservancy.
Keep Erie County Beautiful is a community-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the beauty, health, and sustainability of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Through educational programs, volunteer events, and collaborative partnerships, the organization focuses on reducing litter, promoting recycling, and encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors among residents and businesses. Keep Erie County Beautiful actively participates in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) by providing essential materials and logistical support to help plan and organize cleanup events throughout the region. The organization helps mobilize volunteers, supply cleanup tools, and coordinate site efforts, all aimed at protecting Erie County’s waterways and natural habitats from litter and pollution.
Waste Management (WM) partners with Erie County during the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) to collect all the trash gathered throughout the event, ensuring it is properly removed from cleanup sites. Additionally, Pro Waste Services supports the effort by providing dumpsters when needed and responsibly picking up and disposing of tires collected during the cleanup. These partnerships are crucial in helping Keep Erie County Beautiful efficiently manage waste and keep the community’s natural areas clean and safe.
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) would not be possible without the support of our numerous other partners. Listed below are key organizations and businesses that contribute resources, volunteers, and expertise to help make this important event a success:
- PA Department of Environmental Protection
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- Gannon University
- PA Department of Conservation of Natural Resources
- Erie Insurance
- PA Coastal Resource Management Program
- Giant Eagle
Volunteering for the Erie County International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is simple and impactful. On cleanup day, head to your designated site where you’ll receive gloves, trash bags, and instructions. Don’t forget to sign in! Use either the paper data cards provided or the Clean Swell app to record the types of litter you collect. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring essentials like sunscreen and bug spray. Your efforts help keep Erie County’s waterways clean and contribute valuable data to marine debris research.
At each cleanup site in teams of 2-4 people, volunteers will fill out a Volunteer Data Card. For every piece of trash picked up, volunteers mark a tally in the related section on the card. For example, if a volunteer picks up a plastic water bottle, another volunteer marks a tally in the Beverage Bottles (Plastic) section. Volunteers must remember to record EVERY piece of trash collected, no matter how small. After volunteers are done and the cleanup site is completely picked up, volunteers will then turn in their Volunteer Data Cards to their Site Coordinator. Data collected from volunteers is then given to Keep America Beautiful and the Ocean Conservancy. These organizations then use our data to support legislation aimed at reducing plastic pollution worldwide!
Coordinator and Volunteer Resources:
Ways to Stay Safe:
Remember the Buddy System
Do NOT climb streambanks
Be aware of all traffic: cars, cyclists, etc.
Be aware of weather conditions
Wear protective gear: bug spray, sunscreen, & closed-toe shoes
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What are the hours of the event?
The event runs from 9am-noon on Saturday, September 20th, 2025. Feel free to drop in at any point, though!
What should I wear?
Wear close toed shoes, and long sleeves depending on your location.
What should I bring?
We recommend bringing bug spray, sunscreen, and water!
Where do I get supplies?
Every location will have a site coordinator who will have supplies.
Can my student/child get volunteer hours for this event?
Yes!
I am busy that Saturday. Can I organize a cleanup as part of ICC on a different day?
Absolutely. Reach out to aknight@eriecountypa.gov to set up a location and time for your cleanup. All supplies will be provided to you.
Is pre-registration required to participate in the cleanup?
Pre-registration is not required, but appreciated!
How do we dispose of litter collected during the cleanup?
Each site coordinator will direct volunteers on where to put their filled trash bags which will then be picked up and disposed of by Waste Management.
Will the cleanup be canceled if it rains?
No we will be cleaning our shorelines rain or shine!
In our 2024 Erie County ICC, we had approximately 1,337 volunteers dispersed among 16 sites throughout Erie County. We collected over 3,154 pounds of trash. Around 33 miles of shoreline/waterways were walked/cleaned up.
https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/51478753/international-coastal-cleanup-day
https://pasteelhead.wildapricot.org/Lake-Erie-International-Coastal-Cleanups
https://www.thecorryjournal.com/hometown/article_824dfb04-7b41-11ef-ae16-4feba0989ef4.html