The Keep It Beachy Clean Story
A Collaborative Project That Started It All
Keep It Beachy Clean is a Litter Prevention Program with a mission of educating beach visitors about Keeping it Beachy Clean!
Keep It Beachy Clean began in 2015 through a unique collaboration between Clean Virginia Waterways—who was launching a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program funded by Keep America Beautiful—and the GREEN Committee of the Resort Advisory Commission, who was working on a Clean Beaches initiative. Together, they created a campaign with a positive, beach-friendly vibe aimed at educating visitors and protecting our coast. And just like that, Keep It Beachy Clean was born!
From 2015 to 2019, the program connected with thousands of beachgoers through eye-catching educational materials placed where people gather—hotels, restaurants, boardwalk trolleys, and more. We shared our message through:
Signage in hotels, restaurants, and trolleys
Stickers on beach trash cans
Kids’ activity sheets
Magnets, window clings, and bumper stickers
Thanks to the support of passionate partners and volunteers, our reach has continued to grow. Our friends at The Vacation Channel helped produce videos that aired in hotel rooms across the Virginia Beach oceanfront. In 2018, we hosted a Straw-Free Earth Day in Virginia Beach, and in 2019, we partnered with askHRgreen.org to take it region-wide.
Over the years, we’ve proudly joined forces with organizations like the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, Lynnhaven River NOW, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, ViBe Creative District, Virginia Beach Waste Management, Team Yellow, WINDsdays, and many others to host beach cleanups and community events.
Our Milestones Through the Years
Informational Materials
From 2015 to 2019, the Keep It Beachy Clean program has reached thousands of beach visitors through educational signage in hotels and restaurants, stickers on beach trash cans, signs in beach trolleys, kids’ activity sheets, magnets, window clings, and bumper stickers.
With the help of many partners, we’ve been able to expand and reach even more people at the beach and beyond. Videos were also created by our friends at The Vacation Channel, which are currently shared in hotel rooms throughout the oceanfront.
Straw-Free Earth Day
Keep It Beachy Clean held a Straw-Free Earth Day in Virginia Beach in 2018. Following the success of our first event, we hosted another one in 2019 and expanded our efforts across Hampton Roads with the support of our partner, askhrgreen.org.
Beach Toy Recycling Boxes
In 2020, the VB Resort Advisory Commission approved the installation of four beach toy recycling boxes along the oceanfront. While the project was put on hold due to the pandemic, it thankfully resumed in 2024. In that same year, the boxes were built and placed on the beach, marking a key step in reducing plastic waste and keeping the shoreline clean.
Friends We Made Along the Way
Keep It Beachy Clean has partnered with many organizations throughout the years to organize beach cleanups at the oceanfront, including:
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Lynnhaven River NOW
- Team Yellow
- ViBe Creative District
- Virginia Beach Hotel Association
- Virginia Beach Restaurant Association
- Virginia Beach Waste Management
- WINDsdays and more
Get Involved
We’re excited to grow Keep It Beachy Clean throughout Hampton Roads and beyond. Thank you for visiting our website—be sure to explore the project and see how you can get involved!