Volunteers across both sides of St. Martin removed more than 1,554 kilograms of litter and debris during the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup.
Around 400 volunteers and students took part over three days, cleaning beaches, coastlines, waterways and surrounding areas in Philipsburg, Little Bay and Anse des Sables near La Belle Creole.
Students collected 123 kilograms of trash along the Philipsburg beach and boardwalk, while volunteers at Little Bay removed 691 kilograms. Another 740 kilograms was collected on the French side.
Organizers say the total does not include larger items such as furniture, pallets, vehicle parts and other heavy debris that could not easily be weighed.
Single-use plastics and foam made up a large share of the waste recorded.
At Little Bay, volunteers also raised concerns about construction debris, dumped materials and vehicle wrecks near the mangroves.
Data gathered during the cleanup will be used to support future anti-littering, recycling, waste-management and marine-conservation efforts across the island.