Cortes Island 2026 Beach Clean-up

Roy L Hales/ Beach Clean-up - The 2026 Cortes Island Beach Clean-up is underway. Helen Hall, Executive Director of the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), explained: "The campaign will start on May 1st and run until the end of the month. We're working in partnership with Comox Strathcona Waste Management and Klahoose Aquaculture. We will be placing large 'super sacks' at seven different locations around the island: Hanks Beach Regional Park The Recycling Centre Hollyhock Beach Mansons Landing Government Dock Hayes Road Beach Access Red Granite Beach Plunger Pass Beach Access (Seavista Road) "We are encouraging people to pick up any garbage they spot during their beach walks and place it in these super sacks. They will be available for the entire month of May, and we will collect them at the end of the month." "Klahoose Aquaculture will be hosting an Ocean Legacy bin—a large blue metal bin similar to the ones at the recycling center. All collected garbage will be brought to that central location." "On Saturday, June 6th, we are also offering residents the opportunity to drop off any beach garbage they may have collected at home. We will sort the waste into different categories on that day." "We collect a variety of items, including buoys, oyster trays, and rope. Once sorted, the waste is placed in the bin and transported off-island by Comox Strathcona Waste Management to be recycled." "This is our third year running this program. Last year, we collected over 1,000 kilograms of garbage, which was an amazing result. It was particularly inspiring to see people bringing entire truckloads of debris they had collected themselves."