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Fort Myers Beach CleanUp for a Plastic Free July

July 18, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT

Times Square at Fort Myers Beach + Google Map
Fort Myers Beach CleanUp

Join Gartner and Ocean Blue CleanUp Crew at Fort Myers Beach, FL. CleanUp supplies will be
provided. Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, bring a reusable
water bottle, and your smile.

We will be looking for land-based debris, microtrash, and plastic for a plastic-free beach in July
at one of our favorite parks and protecting marine wildlife.

Plan ahead for parking. Paid parking is available on the street or in public lots near the meetup
plaquette in Times Square at Fort Myers Beach.

Details

Venue

  • Times Square at Fort Myers Beach
  • 1035 Estero Blvd
    Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 United States     + Google Map

What to Pick Up

How to stop ocean pollution - Beach cleanup near me

1

Litters & Debris

Even Small Bits, Animals can mistake them for food

2

Recyclables

like glass, aluminum cans, tin cans, plastic drinking bottles

3

Trash

plastics, metals, glass, styrofoam, foil wrappers, cloth, cardboard, paper, leftover food or food waste

4

Microplastics

A. By technical definition, microplastics are about the size of sesame seeds.
B. They often come from larger plastics that break down into smaller and smaller
pieces.
C. Common sources of microplastics are plastic containers and bottles, bottle caps & lids, packaging, ropes, &
ghost nets.
D. Microplastics are found along the beach on the high tide mark, since floating debris is often left behind by the high tides. 
5

Leave No Trace

Gloves, cleaning supplies, and anything
you brought with you; leave nothing behind but your footprints!

Cleanup Best Practices

  • Split recyclables and trash into separate bags
  • Tie trash bags and dispose in dumpsters (beware overflowing bins: they can cause items to fly away and end up back in the water)
  • Don’t pick up weapons or anything that looks like it came from a hospital. Mark questionable items and inform your organizer or the lifeguard. 
  • If it occurs naturally in nature — like kelp, shells, driftwood — leave it be (try not disrupt animals and plants in the area)
  • Know your cleanup zone boundaries and meeting times 
  • Take note of the nearest lifeguard station and know what to do in case of an emergency
Create-a-Cleanup

Volunteer With a Friend!

Register A Cleanup

The pollution in our communities is a reflection of what’s hurting the ocean.

Whether you’re close to the water or not, you can fight ocean pollution with local changes. Make a difference by joining a community cleanup!

Most importantly, creating local community cleanups is a great way to teach youth the importance of healthy communities and clean water projects. Lastly, the more ocean plastic we can remove depends on Ocean Cleanup volunteers like you! Thank you for supporting Ocean Blue Project the save the ocean organization nonprofit.

Trying to convince a friend to join you in a cleanup? Here are a few reasons why we should all care about the health of our waters:

  • The ocean provides over 70% of the oxygen we breathe
  • Rivers and oceans are important sources of food
  • Seaweed is an ingredient in many consumer products and captures carbon from our atmosphere
  • Scientists use marine organisms for lifesaving medicines 

If we keep our waters healthy, we can keep our livelihoods and economies thriving, protect wildlife, enjoy water recreation, and build a brighter future for generations to come.

About Us

Why Pick Up Plastics and Microplastics?

Look Out for Wildlife

As you explore the cleanup zone, enjoy the nature around you, but try not to disrupt the animals and plants. They're enjoying a beach day too! If you find an injured animal, contact your nearest wildlife agency.

Microplastics occur when the sun breaks down plastic debris into smaller and smaller fragments that never fully biodegrade. Animals often mistake plastics and microplastics for food and can get entangled, injured, gravely sick, or wash ashore. When animals that ingest — but can’t digest — these microplastics are eaten, the plastic moves up the food chain, potentially into our food.

Thank you for keeping our ocean blue.

"Beach cleanups are vital to protecting marine ecosystems because they remove plastic debris before it has the chance to break into smaller fragments that washout to sea and harm wildlife. By joining a cleanup, you’re contributing to the sustainability of our planet."

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