VOLUNTEER
OCEAN TRASH DATA FORM
ORGANIZE & ANALYZE DATA
2
Ocean and waterway trash ranks as one of the most serious pollution problems choking our planet. Far more than an eyesore, 
a rising tide of marine debris threatens human health, wildlife, communities and economies around the world. The ocean faces 
many challenges, but trash should not be one of them. Ocean trash is entirely preventable, and data you collect are part of 
the solution. The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort on behalf of ocean and waterway health.
HERE IS HOW IT WORKS:
Please return this form to your area coordinator. 
If you are unable to do so, please mail or email it to:
Ocean Conservancy
Attn: International Coastal Cleanup
1300 19th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
cleanup@oceanconservancy.org
Trash Free Seas: www.oceanconservancy.org/cleanup
Be a Green Boater: www.oceanconservancy.org/goodmate
Sponsors: www.oceanconservancy.org/cleanupsponsors
Clean Swell: www.oceanconservancy.org/cleanswell
Updated 2021
GO PAPERLESS!
Collect and record 
your data on 
Clean Swell!
Download the 
free app on your 
mobile device.
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS 
WORKING ON THIS CARD:
adults
children 
(under 12)
SITE INFORMATION:
Zone or 
County: 
Nearest Crossroad 
or Landmark: 
State or 
Province: 
Cleanup Site 
Name: 
Country:
CLEAN UP TRASH & COLLECT DATA
1
=20
=17
=19
PUBLISH RESULTS
3
OCEAN
TRASH
INDEX
REPORT
INFORM SOLUTIONS & 
REDUCE OUR IMPACT
4
MOST UNUSUAL ITEM COLLECTED:
DATE OF CLEANUP:
NAME:
EMAIL:
CLEANUP SITE DESCRIPTION
Type of Environment (choose one):
 
Saltwater (Ocean/Bay/Estuary)
 
Freshwater (River/Stream/Lake)
 
Inland (No Water Body Present)
Mode of Data Collection (choose one):
 
Land (beach, shoreline or inland)
 
Underwater
 
Watercraft (powerboat, sailboat, kayak or canoe)
Citizen scientist: Pick up all trash and record all items 
you find below. No matter how small the items, the data 
you collect are important for Trash Free Seas.®
TRASH COLLECTED
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TOTAL #
TOTAL #
TOTAL #
TOTAL #
TOTAL #
TOTAL #
TOTAL #
EXAMPLE:
Plastic Bags:
= 8
Please DO NOT use words or check marks.
Only numbers are useful data.
TOTAL #
Cups, plates (foam):
Cups, plates (paper):
Cups, plates (plastic):
Food containers (foam):
Food containers (plastic):
Food wrappers (candy, chips, etc.):
Lids (plastic):
Straws/stirrers (plastic):
Utensils (plastic):
ILLEGAL DUMPING:
Appliances:
Construction materials:
Tires:
OTHER ITEMS/DEBRIS:
Balloons: 
Clothing: 
E-cigarettes:
Electronic waste (phones, batteries):
Footwear (shoes/slippers):
Paper bags:
Tobacco products (lighters, cigar tips, wrap):
Toys:
Other plastic waste:
Other waste (metal, paper, etc.):
TINY TRASH LESS THAN 2.5CM 
Plastic/foam pieces: 
DEAD/INJURED ANIMAL
Type of animal:
Status: dead/injured       Entangled: yes/no
Type of entanglement item:
2.5cm 
(actual size)
CLEANUP SUMMARY (circle units)
MOST LIKELY TO FIND ITEMS: 
Grocery bags (plastic):
Other bags (plastic):
Beverage bottles (glass):
Beverage bottles (plastic):
Beverage cans:
Beverage sachets/pouches:
Bottle caps (metal):
Bottle caps (plastic):
Cigarette butts:
FISHING & BOATING:
Line, nets, traps, rope, etc.:
Foam dock pieces:
PACKAGING MATERIAL:
6-pack holders:
Foam packaging:
Other plastic bottles (oil, bleach, etc.):
Strapping bands:
PERSONAL HYGIENE:
Condoms:
Cotton bud sticks (swabs):
Diapers:
Gloves & masks (PPE):
Syringes:
Tampons & applicators:
OTHER ITEMS NOT LISTED:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Number of Trash 
Bags Filled:
Weight of Trash 
Collected:
Distance
Cleaned:
lbs/kgs  
miles/km
miles²/km²
Area
Cleaned: