In Navan, volunteers joined forces with Kia Navan to tackle the Ramparts walkway beside the Royal Canal and River Boyne, filling 11 bags with rubbish.

Over a tonne of marine litter cleared in Meath during National Beach Clean

Sally Harding

Published: Tue 23 Sep 2025, 1:11 PM

Almost 200 volunteers in Meath removed an estimated 1.2 tonnes of litter from local beaches, rivers and canals last weekend as part of An Taisce’s nationwide Big Beach Clean.

Groups across the county, including Mornington Tidy Towns, Kia Bettystown and Navan Tidy Towns, took part in the annual effort, joining nearly 11,000 volunteers across Ireland who cleared a staggering 60 tonnes of rubbish in just three days.

At Mornington Beach, the local tidy towns group teamed up with Bettystown, collecting 15.5kg of waste despite the strand being relatively clean. In Navan, volunteers joined forces with Kia Navan to tackle the Ramparts walkway beside the Royal Canal and River Boyne, filling 11 bags with rubbish.

The Big Beach Clean, which ran from September 19th to 21st, saw over 520 clean-ups take place nationwide, with inland groups also playing a big role. Around 80% of marine litter comes from land-based activities, meaning rubbish dropped in towns and cities often finds its way into waterways and eventually the sea.

Ireland’s contribution is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a global initiative led by Ocean Conservancy. In addition to collecting rubbish, volunteers recorded the types of litter they found, with the data helping to shape future campaigns. Past surveys have already inspired initiatives such as #BinTheButt and #BreakUpWithPlastic.

At Mornington Beach, the local tidy towns group teamed up with Bettystown, collecting 15.5kg of waste despite the strand being relatively clean.

The 2025 Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) marine litter report shows a 50% increase in the number of beaches and waterways rated as “clean” compared to last year, though cigarette butts, sweet wrappers and fast-food packaging continue to be the most common finds.

The programme is supported nationally by Kia Ireland, which provided clean-up kits and joined efforts across the country. “Kia Ireland was delighted to support the Big Beach Clean again for 2025 and to witness the commitment and hard work of Clean Coasts staff and volunteers throughout the country,” said Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing and PR.

Clean Coasts Programme Manager Bronagh Moore thanked the thousands who turned out: “Recent surveys show that our beaches are becoming cleaner and that’s in no small part down to the dedicated volunteers who clean our beaches, waterways, towns and villages throughout the year. Together we are making a tangible difference in protecting our marine life.”

For Meath’s volunteers, the message was clear: whether at the seaside in Mornington or along the banks of the Boyne, every bag of litter collected helps protect wildlife and keep local communities clean.