About
Clean Swell is the official mobile application of Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup® program, empowering individuals and groups around the world to participate in meaningful ocean conservation. The app makes it simple to catalog every item of trash collected during a cleanup by tapping intuitive icons representing common debris categories. Users can press and hold icons to enter larger quantities, snap photos of their cleanup sites, and track GPS location and total distance cleaned. All data collected through Clean Swell is instantly synced to Ocean Conservancy's global ocean trash database, directly supporting scientists, researchers, and policy advocates working to address ocean plastic pollution at scale. The app is fully functional offline — ideal for remote beaches or areas with poor connectivity — and supports 12 languages, making it accessible to a truly global volunteer base. Clean Swell also features a personal profile page where users can track their cumulative cleanup progress, view earned achievement badges, and access an Action Center with advocacy alerts and educational blog content. Cleanup results can be shared directly to social media to inspire friends and family. Whether you're an individual volunteer, a school group, or a corporate team organizing a community event, Clean Swell transforms every cleanup into a data point that drives systemic change for a trash-free ocean.
Key Features
- Easy Trash Item Recording: Tap intuitive icons to log every piece of debris collected; press and hold to enter larger quantities or edit totals in real time.
- Global Ocean Trash Database: All cleanup data is instantly uploaded to Ocean Conservancy's worldwide database, supporting scientists and policymakers addressing plastic pollution.
- Offline Functionality: The app works without cellular service or Wi-Fi once downloaded, making it perfect for remote beaches and areas with limited connectivity.
- Multilingual Support: Available in 12 languages and counting, enabling volunteers from around the globe to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup® movement.
- Gamification & Social Sharing: Earn badges as you collect more trash, track personal progress on your profile, and share cleanup results with friends and family on social media.
Use Cases
- Individual volunteers recording debris during solo beach or waterway cleanups to contribute to global conservation data.
- Schools and youth organizations running educational cleanup events while teaching students about ocean plastic pollution.
- Corporate social responsibility teams organizing community cleanup days and tracking their collective environmental impact.
- International Coastal Cleanup® event coordinators managing large-scale, multi-group cleanup efforts across diverse locations.
- Citizen scientists contributing real-world trash data to support academic research and environmental policy advocacy.
Pros
- Completely Free: Clean Swell is available at no cost on both iOS and Android, removing any barrier to participation for volunteers worldwide.
- Works Offline: No internet connection is required during a cleanup, making the app reliable in remote coastal or rural environments.
- Real Scientific Impact: Data collected feeds directly into a global ocean trash database used by researchers and advocates driving policy change against plastic pollution.
- Engaging & Community-Driven: Badges, social sharing, and group cleanup features make conservation fun and help grow a global community of ocean champions.
Cons
- Narrow Use Case: The app is purpose-built for environmental cleanups and offers no utility outside of trash-collection data logging.
- Manual Data Entry: Users must manually tap icons for each item collected, which can slow down the process during large or fast-paced cleanups.
- GPS Required for Location Tracking: Location and distance tracking features only function if the user has explicitly enabled GPS or location services on their device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clean Swell free to download and use?
Yes, Clean Swell is completely free to download and use on both iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) devices.
Can I use Clean Swell without an internet connection?
Yes. Once downloaded, the app works fully offline — ideal for cleanups in remote or low-connectivity areas. Data syncs to the global database when you reconnect.
What languages does Clean Swell support?
Clean Swell currently supports 12 languages, with more being added to broaden global accessibility.
How does my cleanup data help the environment?
Every item you log is uploaded to Ocean Conservancy's global ocean trash database, which scientists, researchers, and policy advocates use to understand pollution trends and push for systemic solutions.
Can I organize a group cleanup with Clean Swell?
Yes. When starting a new cleanup, you can enter a group name and the number of participants, making it easy to coordinate team or organizational cleanups and track collective impact.
