Submitted by San Juan County.

Small actions make a world of difference! This spring, join fellow islanders for the 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up and help keep our beaches and roadways clean. The event will take place on Saturday, April 26, with participants meeting at 10:00 AM at the San Juan Island Brewing Co. parking lot, located at 410 A St., Friday Harbor, to pick up collection equipment and receive beach and roadway assignments.

Katie Johnson, Marine Project Coordinator for San Juan County, emphasizes the importance of the event’s theme, “Think Global, Act Local,” reminding participants that their efforts make a significant impact on the health of our environment. “Plastic pollution doesn’t just impact our shorelines—it breaks down into microplastics that enter our waters and threaten marine life. By removing litter before it reaches waterways, we help protect the Salish Sea and all the creatures that call this place home.”

Participants will receive coffee and goodies provided by Lautenbach Recycling to fuel their efforts (please bring your own coffee cup). After cleaning, drop off your collected trash at the same location by 2 p.m..

The celebration continues with an after-party at San Juan Island Brewing Co., featuring live music by Shadow Basket, Mediterranean eats for sale by Green Beat Kitchen, drink tickets and raffle prizes for clean-up participants, t-shirt printing with Alchemy Art Center (please bring a shirt to reuse), and the Stewardship Network’s Good Steward Awards.

For more information on clean-up locations and how to get involved, visit plasticfreesalishsea.org/events. Be sure to share your clean-up adventures on Facebook and Instagram using #GICU2025 or send them to katiej@sanjuancountywa.gov.

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 service groups. This event is made possible through funding from the WA Department of Ecology’s Community Litter Cleanup Program.

Save the date and join the effort to keep our marine waters clean—every piece of litter removed helps protect the Salish Sea!

Contributed photo by Jess Newly Cleaning up Jacksons Beach.

Contributed photo A bucket of bottles from last year’s clean-up.