Chennai, 26 September 2026
As part of the International Coastal Cleanup 2026, a large-scale beach cleanup drive was conducted across the Chennai coastline on 26 September 2026, bringing together more than 35,000 volunteers from different sections of society.
The initiative was organised by SAVETURTLE with communiTREE supporting the coordination and implementation of the beach cleanup across Chennai.
The cleanup covered the coastline from Kasimedu to Kovalam, with enthusiastic participation from school and college students, corporate employees, NGOs, community and volunteer clubs, institutions and citizens, who came together with a shared commitment towards cleaner beaches and healthier oceans.
The initiative brought together diverse volunteer groups, educational institutions, corporates, NGOs and community organisations across Chennai for a collective coastal conservation effort.
The participation included representatives from 31+ schools, 27 colleges, 41 corporates and 17 NGOs, making the initiative a broad-based community effort towards protecting Chennai’s coastline.
The International Coastal Cleanup 2026 initiative received valuable support from various organisations and institutions, including Suzlon, Decathlon, SRM College, SRM Easwari College, Bhumi NGO, Sahas NGO, SWOT, On The Streets, Apollo Hospitals, Ford, Saint-Gobain, Pupil International School, Sri Sairam Engineering College, and many other organisations and community groups.
These organisations contributed to the success of the initiative through volunteer participation, coordination, mobilisation and various other forms of support, strengthening the collective effort towards cleaner beaches and healthier oceans.
Throughout the cleanup, volunteers worked across multiple beach locations to collect and segregate waste while creating awareness about the growing impact of marine litter on coastal ecosystems and ocean life.
The large-scale participation highlights the growing civic responsibility and community commitment toward environmental preservation in Chennai.