Nationwide litter pick campaign launches to tackle pollution from source to sea

The Marine Conservation Society is encouraging people across the UK to take part in a new nationwide initiative, the Source to Sea Litter Pick week, running from 16 to 31 May 2026.

The campaign invites individuals, families, schools, community groups and workplaces to complete at least one litter survey.

By recording litter found in places ranging from parks and footpaths to canal sides and school grounds, participants will help build a national picture of pollution and how it travels through the environment.

While thousands of volunteers take part in the Marine Conservation Society’s beach cleans each year, the new initiative aims to highlight that people do not need to live near the coast to help protect the ocean.

Litter dropped inland can travel through drains, rivers and waterways before eventually reaching the sea. Studies, including research from the European Environment Agency, estimate that around 80 per cent of marine litter originates from land-based sources.

The Source to Sea campaign is intended to demonstrate how everyday actions in towns and cities can directly affect marine environments. Participants are also being encouraged to share photos and videos of their litter picks to help document activity across the country.

Data collected during the event will contribute to future environmental policy discussions, including helping establish a baseline ahead of the planned Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) for drinks containers due to launch across the UK in October 2027.

The surveys will track commonly discarded items such as plastic bottles and cans to help measure how schemes such as DRS affect litter levels over time.

‘Source to Sea litter pick surveys shine a light on litter far beyond the coastline, helping us track rubbish back to its source,’ said Anna Bunney, Citizen Science Programme Manager at the Marine Conservation Society.

‘Collecting rubbish is not only great in tidying up your local area, but the survey provides critical evidence in driving upstream solutions that can stop pollution before it ever gets the chance to reach our ocean.

‘From plastic bottles and cans to wet wipes, vapes and coffee cups, each item recorded contributes to a clearer understanding of how waste moves through the environment.’

How to take part in the Source to Sea initiative

• Download the Source to Sea survey form
• Complete a litter survey between 16 and 31 May 2026, recording any of the 14 key litter items listed on the form
• Submit the data via the Marine Conservation Society website by 7 June 2026

For more information on organising cleanups and downloading the forms, visit the MCS Source to Sea survey page.

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