Fall 2026 Great Islands Clean-Up

Caring for our island home

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

We live in a special place and caring for it is part of being an island dweller. This fall, communities across San Juan County will come together for the Great Islands Clean-Up on Saturday September 26, helping care for the beaches, roadsides, and shared spaces that make our islands home.

This year’s event celebrates caring about where we live. It’s about looking out for the places we share by recognizing that the condition of our islands is something we all have a hand in shaping, and something we can pass on to those who come next.

“People who live in the islands understand that taking care of this place is part of being in a community,” said Katie Johnson, Marine Project Coordinator for San Juan County. “The Great Islands Clean-Up is a chance to put that ethic into action: to roll up our sleeves, take care of the places we love, and show that we’re proud of where we live.”

The Great Islands Clean-Up will take place on Orcas, Lopez, Shaw, and San Juan Island on September 26, while outer island pick up will be on September 22. Orcas will also have additional opportunities for participants starting September 19. To find cleanup locations and learn how to get involved on all islands, visit plasticfreesalishsea.org/events. Individuals, families, businesses, community groups, and service organizations are all encouraged to participate. 

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. Funding support is provided by the Washington Department of Ecology’s Community Litter Cleanup Program.

Join us September 26. Take joy in where you live. Care for the places we share. Leave something better behind.

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.