MORE than 8,000 volunteers collected over 28,500kg of rubbish along Malaysia’s coastline during this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) campaign.
In a press statement, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), which coordinates ICC activities locally, said 8,347 volunteers were involved in cleanups held nationwide from August to October.
Among the rubbish collected, 97% were made from non-biodegradable materials.
Plastic waste dominated the collected items, with plastic beverage bottles (74,639), cigarette butts (63,695) and plastic grocery bags (49,441) being the most commonly found items.
“This year’s findings reflect both persistent challenges and encouraging progress,” said RCM chief operating officer Theresa Ng.
“Plastic beverage bottles, cigarette butts and plastic bags remain among the top items collected, echoing global trends.
“Yet, there is also evidence of increasing awareness and action – more local communities, schools and youth groups are leading initiatives.
“These are the signs of a growing, data-driven movement rooted in collective action,” she added.
Ng said the full 2025 ICC Malaysia report is available on Reef Check Malaysia’s website.
Among the campaign’s notable participants was Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is known for her environmental advocacy and fondly referred to as “Princess Beach Cleanup”.
“Talking about doing the right thing for our environment is easy, but taking action is what truly matters,” she said.
“This marks my ninth year participating in the ICC and I want to thank all the volunteers for proving that actions speak louder than words.”
This year’s cleanups were supported by several corporations including Proton, MST Golf and Royal Bank of Canada.
Proton’s volunteers removed 468.27kg of waste from Morib Baharu in Selangor, while MST Golf’s team cleared 180kg at the same location.
Royal Bank of Canada volunteers collected 172.9kg from Bagan Lalang beach, also in Selangor.
In Pulau Tioman, Pahang, RCM also organised its annual “Kod Blue: Laut Needs You” campaign at Kampung Juara.
Supported by Migalabs, Reef Malaysia and Hydro Flask Malaysia, the event involved both land and underwater cleanups.
Volunteers removed 434.5kg of rubbish from two beaches and cleared 198 crown-of-thorns starfish during the underwater cleanup.
One of Kod Blue 2025’s volunteers, Jason Foo, said he and his family joined the beach cleanup while holidaying on the island.
“My family and I love nature and we were shocked at the amount of rubbish we picked up.
“I learned how rubbish travels across countries – it’s not just a local problem; it’s a global issue,” Foo added.
Ng said cleanups were a valuable entry point to spark deeper conversations on waste and sustainability.
“Moving forward, RCM will continue working with communities, partners and policymakers to tackle marine debris at its source,” she said.
RCM has coordinated the International Coastal Cleanup in Malaysia since 2008, engaging thousands of volunteers each year to protect the nation’s coastlines.
