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Our Data

Our data provides critical information to address plastic pollution at its source.

Each time a Shoreline Cleanup volunteer collects litter data as part of a cleanup, it gets added to our database, which helps inform research and policy in the battle against unnecessary plastics.

Our data is an accumulation of nearly 30 years of citizen science-led shoreline cleanups. Thanks to the efforts of the almost 1,000,000 volunteers who have collected litter data on shorelines across North America, our dataset is extremely robust - making it a powerful tool to help decisionmakers address plastic pollution at its source. The Shoreline Cleanup dataset is open source and available, making it accessible to researchers, policymakers and anyone who's curious about the impact of shoreline cleanups.

Shoreline Cleanup data has been used to take major action by informing litter-related policy across Canada. Perhaps most notably, this data was used to help guide the federal ban on unnecessary single-use plastics - meaning if you've ever taken part in a Shoreline Cleanup, you have played a role in making this happen!

We see our Shoreline Cleanup data as a tool to empower strides in plastic reduction research and policy - and we want YOU to use it! To access our data, please contact us at [email protected]

2021 Volunteer stats

Volunteers are the backbone of the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup program. Check out our volunteer stats from 2021

Read our Impact Reports

At the end of each year, we compile the litter data we've collected into an Impact Report, which can be accessed here.

2022 Dirty Dozen

Each year we identify the 12 most found items on our freshwater and marine shorelines.

Plastic Reduction Policies

Visit our library of policies, bylaws and other legislation that municipalities within Canada and internationally have used to successfully tackle plastic waste in their own communities.

Join the mailing list

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive emails about events, news about ocean successes and issues, and opportunities to support us.

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