Bluffton’s Beach Sweep/River Sweep returns Sept. 19

Volunteers will fan out along the May River and through surrounding areas Sept. 19 as Bluffton takes part in the 37th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep.
The cleanup will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St.

No registration is required.

Residents and business owners from the greater Bluffton area are invited to help remove litter from the May River shoreline, nearby streets and parks in the Bluffton Historic District.

Cleanup supplies will be provided, including gloves, bags, vests, water, sunscreen and bug spray. Volunteers are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, and the Quench Buggy will be on-site for refills.

The town also will provide lunch and snacks, and free coffee will be available for volunteers.

The Bluffton event is part of Beach Sweep/River Sweep, an annual statewide effort to remove litter from South Carolina beaches and waterways. The program is held on the third Saturday in September and draws volunteers to beaches, rivers, lakes, creeks and wetlands across the state, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

The town of Bluffton hosts two river cleanups each year, with the May River Cleanup held in the spring and River Sweep held in September. Both are based at Oyster Factory Park. The town says the events attract hundreds of volunteers and are intended to reduce the amount of trash entering the May River and areas surrounding local waterways.

participated in Bluffton’s 2025 Beach Sweep/River Sweep, according to town records.

The town identifies common trash from consumer goods as the majority of material that eventually becomes marine debris. Plastics are a particular concern because of their persistence in aquatic environments and their effects on the environment, wildlife and human health.

This year’s cleanup is supported by a number of community and environmental organizations. The event flyer identifies partners including PalmettoPride, i2 Recycle, Beaufort County, Port Royal Sound Foundation, The Outside Foundation, The Dolphin Project, American Rivers and Beaufort Memorial, among others.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium are statewide partners in Beach Sweep/River Sweep. The town also works with Lowcountry Stormwater Partners and other local and regional organizations on its annual litter cleanups.

requires little preparation. Supplies will be available at the event, advance registration is not necessary and participants should bring a reusable water bottle if possible.

For more information about the Sept. 19 cleanup, contact Hannah Quast at 843-540-6958 or hquast@townofbluffton.com.