Hillsborough River and Coastal Cleanup 2025!

Each September, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful organizes over 1,000 dedicated volunteers to clean the Hillsborough River and its shorelines of debris and non-native invasive plants. In 2024, there were over 1,000 volunteers, 63 cleanup sites, and over 28,000 pounds of trash were removed from the river and coastal areas.

This community-wide effort goes beyond just a cleanup. In partnership with Ocean Conservancy and its Swell App, every piece of trash collected is logged, along with cleanup locations and distances covered. This valuable data is uploaded to the Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ocean Trash Database, where it helps scientists and advocates tackle marine pollution on a global scale.

This year, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is partnering with the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) to host an exciting spirit week, which will take place from September 15th to 19th. There will be eco tours, educational cleanups, and other activities to gear up for the cleanup. Whether you’re a student, business owner, environmental advocate, or simply just a person who cares about the future of Tampa Bay, there’s a place for you in this movement. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on our coastlines and waterways!