It’s almost time for the Spring Great Islands Clean on April 18! Supporting the Earth Day theme for 2026: Our Planet, Our Power
The Great Islands Clean-up, organized bi-annually every Spring and Fall, is a collaborative effort led by the County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship Solid Waste Program in partnership with Orcas Recycling Services, Lautenbach Recycling, Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District, San Juan Sanitation, Friends of the San Juans, the Stewardship Network of the San Juans, and numerous individual, business, and service group volunteers. The event is made possible through funding from the WA Department of Ecology’s Community Litter Cleanup Program.
Lopez
10–11am: Sign in, pick your route, and grab supplies at Lopez Village Park. Coffee and light snacks provided. Some supplies will be available for pick-up at Islandale Grocery on the south end.
12–2pm: Drop off litter for free at the Lopez Dump, following signs for GICU.
Contact Sarah with questions: sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org |
Orcas
Pick-up bags, vests and grabbers starting Monday, April 13th at The Exchange or on Saturday, April 18th (day of event) at the Eastsound Village Green starting at 10am.
Collected trash can be dropped off the day of the event between 2-3pm at the Village Green.
Participants can stop by Island Hoppin’ Brewery for a free pint starting at 4pm!
Contact: pete@exchangeorcas.org | 360-376-4089 For more info visit: exchangeorcas.org/great-islands-clean-up
Shaw
Bring collected beach and roadside trash to Shaw baseball field on Saturday, April 18 from 2 – 3
Contact Jennifer with questions: outsidelanguage1@gmail.com | 360.378.7948
San Juan
Meet 10am at San Juan Island Brewing Co. parking lot, 410 A St., Friday Harbor to pick-up collection equipment & receive beach & roadway assignments. Coffee & goodies will be provided by Lautenbach Recycling to fuel your efforts (bring your own coffee cup, please)! Drop-off collected trash @ the same location by 1:30pm.
1:30-4:00 After-party at San Juan Island Brewing Co. with music by DJ Miked Up Productions, food for purchase from Molino San Juan, drink tickets and raffle prizes for clean-up participants, and the Stewardship Network’s Good Steward Awards.
Join Friends of the San Juans and the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center for the Great Plastic Nurdle Hunt at Jackson Beach. More info here.
The Friday Harbor High School Eco Club is hosting a clothing swap from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Please bring clean, good-condition clothes (do not bring bathing suits, eyewear, underwear, or used socks). Drop off your clothes at the Eco Club booth, and they’ll l handle the rest. You don’t have to bring clothes to take them! Thank you for joining our local youth in their mission to reduce textile waste in the San Juans – and happy thrifting!
Contact Katie Johnson with questions: katiej@sanjuancountywa.gov | 360.375.5368
