Community comes together for fall ‘Great Islands Cleanup’

Islanders carry on the legacy of caring by clearing over 2,000 pounds of waste from our beaches

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

Across the San Juan Islands this fall, community members came together to clean beaches, shorelines, roadsides, and favorite island places as part of the bi-annual Great Islands Cleanup. The fall cleanup brought volunteers together around a simple idea: caring for these islands is a legacy worth continuing.

This year’s theme of ‘Caring for Our Island Home’ reflected both the history of the Great Islands Cleanup and the lasting impact of community members who have made caring for local places part of their routine over the past 12 years. Volunteers on Orcas, Lopez, Shaw, and San Juan Islands removed litter and marine debris from 120 miles collecting approximately 2,382 pounds of trash with the help of 152 volunteers. Cleanup efforts also reached the outer islands of Henry, Johns, and Stuart where residents helped remove debris that washes ashore in places without easy access to waste disposal or transportation.

One of the most encouraging observations this year came not from what volunteers found, but from what they didn’t find. Across the islands, volunteers reported seeing less litter than in previous years. Some cleanup sites that once yielded bags of trash now produced much smaller hauls.

“It’s encouraging to hear people say they’re finding less trash,” said Katie Fleming, Solid Waste Coordinator. “That’s a sign that years of community cleanups, education, and everyday choices are making a difference. But as long as there’s still a beer can on the beach or a nurdle in the driftwood, there’s work to do.”

The Great Islands Clean-Up is a collaborative effort led by the San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship’s Solid Waste Program, in partnership with Orcas Recycling Services, Lautenbach Recycling, Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District, San Juan Sanitation, Friends of the San Juans, the Stewardship Network of the San Juans, and countless volunteers, businesses, and community organizations. The effort builds on years of volunteer action to reduce marine debris and keep waste from entering the Salish Sea. For many volunteers, the cleanup has become about more than picking up litter. It is a way to care for the places that make the islands home and to leave them a little better for the people who come next.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Fall Great Islands Cleanup and to the community members who continue to care for our shared island home.

Media Contact: Katie Johnson, Marine Project Coordinator, katiej@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-375-5863

About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship 

San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuanco.com/839/Environmental-Stewardship.