The ReefClean program is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and is delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
Great Barrier Reef Clean-up - Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
What is the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up?
The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up is a flagship initiative of Tangaroa Blue Foundation’s ReefClean program, delivered in collaboration with Clean Up Australia.Â
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The event mobilises communities across the Reef catchment to remove marine debris, collect vital data, and take action to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.
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By combining grassroots participation with targeted environmental action, the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up plays a key role in preventing litter from entering Reef waterways and supporting long-term conservation efforts.
When and where is the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up taking place?
The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up 2025 is taking place throughout October on beaches all along the Queensland coast.Â
Sign up to host a clean-up in Queensland on any day in October, at any beach, and we’ll send you free clean-up kits and resources to help make your event a success.
*Registrations open in July 2025.
Who can participate?
Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re an ocean-loving individual, school, business or community group – you can join #GBRCU25 and help protect the Reef!Â
*Registrations open in July 2025.
Do I have to run my own clean-up to be a part of #GBRCU25?
No, you don’t have to run your own clean-up. You can also volunteer at a local public clean-up event. To see the locations of public clean-ups, check out our interactive map.
*Map link goes live in July 2025.
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Do I need to register to join or run a clean-up?
Yes! Registering helps us plan and ensure safety. Without registering your own clean-up, we can’t send you your free clean-up kit! You can register to run or join a local clean-up near you.Â
*Registrations open in July 2025.
How does my clean-up help the Great Barrier Reef?
Marine debris is recognised as a major threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef (Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024). Plastic pollution can entangle and injure vulnerable species like sea turtles and seabirds, and microplastics have now been detected in coral tissues.
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By joining the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up this October, Queensland communities have a chance to take direct action: removing harmful debris before the wet season when it’s swept from catchment areas to the Reef.Â
Can I join if I’m not local?
Yes! Visitors and tourists are welcome (but please organise your own travel and accommodation).
How can I support if I can’t attend?
You can spread the word, run your own local clean-up or make a donation to help remove and prevent marine debris.
Running a Clean-up
Can I run a clean-up with just my own friends or family?
Yes! Your clean-up can be as big or as small as you like. When registering, you can list your event as a ‘private event,’ so it won’t be advertised publicly.
Can I run a clean-up with my workplace, community group, or business?
Absolutely! You can organise a clean-up event with your workplace, community group, or business. If you do, please submit a high-quality PNG of your logo so we can create free branded promotional assets to support your event.Â
*Registrations open in July 2025.
What equipment do I need to run a clean-up?
You’ll need bags for debris collection, gloves, and sharps containers. We provide these in your FREE clean-up kits—just request them when you register your event.
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 It’s also good to bring sunscreen, drinking water, insect repellent, and a first aid kit. For a full equipment list, check out our Clean-up Toolkit when registering.
What should I do with the rubbish collected from my clean-up?
Use the local bins provided at your site if the debris load is small. If you are expecting lots of debris, contact your local council for assistance with rubbish disposal.
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Make sure you let them know that the debris was collected during a GBRCU beach clean-up!
Can Tangaroa Blue provide free waste disposal?
Unfortunately, this decision is at the discretion of each local council. We recommend notifying your council of your clean-up event and your proposed debris disposal date, so that they can be best prepared when you arrive for disposal.
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Letting the council know that the debris has been collected from a GBRCU beach clean-up is important, so they are aware that it’s not personal or residential debris.
Can a Tangaroa Blue Foundation staff member come to my clean-up event?
Unfortunately, our staff are busy leading other clean-ups in October and cannot attend your event. We will be leading some staff-led public clean-ups which will be displayed on the interactive GBRCU Map.
*Map link goes live in July 2025.
What should I bring as a volunteer?
Clean-up kits are provided; please wear enclosed shoes, bring weather protection, and your water bottle.
Is training or experience required?
No experience is required for a clean-up. We provide a Clean-up Toolkit with everything you need to make your day a success!
Data Entry
Do I have to sort and enter data on the debris collected?
At Tangaroa Blue Foundation, data is key to our efforts and success in reducing marine debris. It means we can track debris at each site to the source and find ways to stop it from arriving on our beaches in the first place.Â
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At a minimum, please record the number of bags collected, the total weight of the debris collected, and take photos of any interesting items (eg, items with foreign labels/branding).Â
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We encourage you to have a go at sorting the debris by material type into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database, which is very user-friendly and easy to follow. You can add as much or as little information as you like.
Join the 2025 Great Barrier Reef Clean-up!
What the GBR Community achieved last year:
- 2402 kgs marine debris removed
- Across 40 different areas
- 97,000 pieces of marine debris
- 50 collaborating organisations
- 147 Clean-ups
- 8.7 million people reached via news and social media
