Over 800,000 volunteers Clean Up their local communities

On its 35th anniversary, Clean Up Australia Day has once again had an overwhelming attendance with over 800,000 volunteers coming together to help keep their local communities clean across more than 8,000 Clean Up events. While registrations are still being received, it has been another incredible effort from volunteers across the length and breadth of Australia to make this one the biggest ever. With this great response, Clean Up Australia is set to exceed overall volunteer numbers for the year, likely to be well over a million.

Clean Up Australia Day is the nation’s largest community-based environmental event and more than 22 million Australians have participated in Clean Up activities since its inception. It is the most practical way to educate and demonstrate litter prevention. Clean Up events are happening all across the country from the Tiwi Islands in NT to right down south in Abels Bay in Tasmania.

Pip Kiernan says: “What an incredible turnout today on what is Clean Up Australia Day’s 35th anniversary! I know my dad, the late Ian Kiernan AO and founder of Clean Up Australia would be so proud to see what started as a local community Clean Up event on Sydney Harbour, turn into the national day of practical action that is so loved by communities across the country.

“In 2025, we again see soft plastics and cigarette butts amongst the commonly reported items collected by volunteers who are encouraged to report their findings at each Clean Up,” Pip continued.

“One of the best ways to take action to help the environment is to participate with your local community and register for a Clean Up event. In the 35 years since the very first one, over 22 million volunteers have donned their gloves, grabbed a bag and joined us in Cleaning Up our beautiful country. It really is a wonderful way to make a difference and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who gets involved.” Pip concluded.

Pip and community volunteers were joined this morning by Olympians Sam Fricker and Lisa Darmanin on Sydney Harbour with members of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Sydney by Kayak, a nod to Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan AO who held the first Clean Up Sydney Harbour Event in 1989. Its success led to it becoming a national event in 1990.

About Clean Up Australia

Founded by Ian Kiernan, AO in 1990, Clean Up Australia is one of the country’s most recognised and trusted environmental organisations, inspiring and mobilising communities to improve our environment, eliminate litter and end waste. Clean Up Australia Day is the nation’s largest community-based environmental event and more than 22 million Australians have participated in Clean Up activities since its inception.

Clean Up Australia now works with communities, governments and businesses to provide practical solutions to help all Australians live more sustainably every day of the year. Today the organisation’s focus is as much on preventing litter entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated.

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