Beach Sweep/River Sweep
- BS/RS is the largest one-day waterway cleanup event in South Carolina, taking place every 3rd Saturday in September since 1988.
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In 2024, a total of 3212 volunteers from 7 coastal counties covered 293.64 miles and collected 27,760.5 pounds of discarded items from beaches, rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps.
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The next BS/RS will be held Saturday, September 20, 2025, across the state. Coastal cleanups will be led by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, while inland cleanups will be led by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
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This program is federally funded by the NOAA National Sea Grant Office, which currently faces budget cuts.
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BSRS Photos
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2024 Coastal Cleanup
A volunteer holding up a set of plastic beverage rings during Beach Sweep/River Sweep at Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
Two student volunteers minding their footing while collecting trash as the Charleston ferry passes by. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
A student volunteer wearing waders in order to collect trash at high tide. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
Two student volunteers holding up a large black trash bag found in the marsh, with the U.S.S. Yorktown visible in the background. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
BS/RS volunteers from the College of Charleston environmental and sustainability studies program spread out in the salt marsh to clean areas closer to the Charleston Harbor. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
Accumulated trash in the salt marsh near Waterfront Park prior to the cleanup efforts. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
Beach Sweep/River Sweep branded trash collection bag surrounded by newly cleared salt marsh in Charleston, S.C. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
BS/RS volunteer from the College of Charleston environmental and sustainability studies program holding a discarded glass beverage bottle to be counted for data collection. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
BS/RS trash collection bags filled by the team of College of Charleston environmental and sustainability studies students based at Waterfront Park in Charleston. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea grant Consortium.
Aerial view of the shoreline on Sullivan’s Island as BS/RS volunteers collect trash. Photo credit: Noah Stillman/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
Aerial view of BS/RS volunteers combing the beach on Sullivan’s Island. Photo credit: Noah Stillman/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
Aerial view of BS/RS volunteers on Sullivan’s Island, with the Charleston Harbor and Ravenel Bridge in the distance. Photo credit: Noah Stillman/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
CofC student volunteer holding the BS/RS data collection sheet. Volunteers logged their finds, with grocery bags, Styrofoam, food wrappers, and plastic bottles being some of the most collected items of trash. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
Two volunteers tossing litter into their collection bags at Waterfront Park. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
CofC students wading into the salt marsh during a King Tide to collect trash. Photo credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
BSRS Videos
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View of styrofoam and plastic waste floating in salt marsh at high tide beside Waterfront Park Pier in downtown Charleston, S.C. prior to collection during Beach Sweep River Sweep. Video credit: Hailey Murphy/S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.