Clean the Bay Day
Clean the Bay Day has been a staple for Virginia's Chesapeake Bay community since its inception more than 30 years ago.
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and partners for making Clean the Bay Day 2026 a success. This year, more than 2,400 volunteers and over 60 CBF partners came together at more than 200 sites across the Commonwealth. In just three hours, they removed over 51,000 pounds of litter and debris from beaches, parks, streets, shorelines, streams, rivers, and lakes.
The collective impact of this annual event is profound. Since its launch in 1989, more than 180,000 volunteers have cleared over 7.2 million pounds of debris from waterways and landscapes throughout Virginia—an extraordinary contribution to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
While litter cleanup is important and accessible to all, the Bay also faces less visible challenges, including habitat loss, sediment, and nutrient pollution. Tackling these issues demands broad, long-term commitment. Clean the Bay Day often provides that spark, inspiring people of all ages to become dedicated stewards of their local environment.
See our numbers and map of cleanup results. Check out our photo album. Watch our video to see why so many people participate.
What You Can Do the Rest of the Year
While we remove a lot of litter from our waterways each year, we encourage volunteers to “go beyond litter” by addressing the less visible threats to the health the Bay. Check out more ideas for what you can do every day to help save the Bay.
2026 Photo Album
Why do you help clean the Bay?
More for Clean the Bay Day
What you need to know for Clean the Bay Day.
This event wouldn't be possible without the support of our sponsors. Join us in thanking them.
