Clean up Australia Day 2026
Clean Up Australia Day is back, and you're invited to take part.
From our beaches and creeks to neighbourhood parks and bushland, litter continues to impact the places we love. Plastics remain the most common type of litter found in natural environments, and items like vapes and batteries are increasingly turning up where they don’t belong.
Clean Up Australia Day is a chance for our community to come together and make a visible difference.
Whether you’re an individual, family, school, or community group, you can register a Clean Up activity that suits your patch of the Sunshine Coast – from Caloundra South through to Peregian, and west to the hinterland towns of Kenilworth, Mapleton and Maleny.
Three Clean up opportunities
- Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday 24 February 2026
- Schools Clean Up Day on Friday 27 February 2026
- Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1 March 2026
Why get involved?
- be part of a national movement that has inspired more than 23 million volunteers
- help protect local beaches, waterways, parks and bushland
- show care for the place we call home and set a positive example for others.
What you’ll receive
Registered volunteers can access a free Clean Up kit, with gloves, bags and helpful resources. Kits are available for individuals, families, schools and community groups (businesses can participate for a small fee to cover costs).
If you can’t take part on the day, donations are welcome, with funds supporting free Clean Up kits and environmental action across Australia.
Find out more
Visit the Clean Up Australia Day website
FAQs
Why do participants have to register?
Registering means a volunteer is covered by Clean Up Australia’s public liability insurance. They will be counted as a participant. It enables them to log what they collected during their clean-up efforts.
CUAD have been keeping records for over 30 years and tracking litter trends- they know that almost two thirds of what people collected in 2022 was made of plastic and cigarette butts have always been the most collected item.
Can I join someone else’s clean up event?
Yes, use the site search to find an event close by. Some sites will be listed as private and are unable to welcome members of the public.
If a volunteer finds a public event, they are encouraged to register online as it helps site supervisors anticipate numbers and plan accordingly. It also means they will be automatically notified if there are any last-minute changes.
If they are unable to find an event nearby, they can sign up on their own. Volunteers do not need a group- they can participate individually or as a family.
Is there a cost involved?
No, there is no cost for community members, schools, or youth groups. CUAD ask businesses to pay a small fee to cover some costs.
