The Whitsunday Marine Debris Removal Program (WMDRP) aims to protect the iconic Whitsunday islands and Great Barrier Reef from the detrimental effects of marine debris. WMDRP provides continuous removal and monitoring of marine debris for the Whitsunday islands and coastline.
The Barge Clean-Up Trips
The barge carries up to 10 volunteers on each of our clean-up trips and we head out to known impacted bays and beaches in the Whitsunday region.
On average we remove around 200 kilograms of marine debris per trip. Lunch and morning tea is provided on the day and we always welcome new volunteers.
Eco Barge aims to run 30-40 clean-up trips per year to tackle the marine debris which continues to wash up on our beaches from the south-east trade winds.
257450
Kgs of marine
debris collected
520
Barge island
clean-up trips
2000
Kgs of marine
debris transformed
272
Turtles cared for by Whitsunday
Turtle Rescue Centre
12979
Volunteers
since 2009
Clean-Up Trips since 2009
2025
0 KGs Collected
0 Clean-Up Trips
0
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Trips yet to come for 2025
2024
6,705 KGs COllected
33 Clean-Up Trips
296
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- The Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- Reef Guardian Councils Program’s Activating Local Councils’ Reef Action Plans grant provided by the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Coca-Cola Australia
- Qantas Regional Grants
2023
6,902 KGs Collected
45 Clean-Up Trips
403
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- The Coca-Cola Foundation
- The Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- ReefClean and is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust
2022
7,122.5 KGs COllected
46 Clean-Up Trips
369
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- The Coca-Cola Foundation
- The Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- ReefClean and is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust
2021
13,692 KGs COllected
47 Clean-Up Trips
361
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- The Coca-Cola Foundation
- ReefClean
- Reef Catchments
- The Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
3,004 kg removed during land-based clean ups
2020
4,975 KGs COllected
30 Clean-Up Trips
140
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- The Coca-Cola Foundation
- Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- ReefClean
- Reef Catchments
2019
14,040 KGs COllected
41 Clean-Up Trips
423
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- Reef Catchments
- ReefClean
- The Coca-Cola Foundation
1,292 kg removed during Community Clean-ups on Clean-up Australia Day, World Oceans Day, Great Northern Clean-up and our Pre-Christmas Clean.
2018
6,185 KGs COllected
25 Clean-Up Trips
277
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Coca-Cola
- Reef Catchments
- Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Actions grants program
- Cumberland Charter Yachts
2017
21,611 KGs COllected
19 Clean-Up Trips
209
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Queensland Governments Community Sustainability Action grants program
- Cruise Whitsundays
- Maritime Safety Queensland
- Reef Catchments
7,791 kilograms removed during marine debris removal trips
13,820 kilograms removed during Tropical Cyclone Debbie Clean-up
2016
12,561 KGs COllected
29 Clean-Up Trips
329
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Everyone’s Environment Grant
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
- Cruise Whitsundays
- Sunsuper
2015
20,968 KGs COllected
47 Clean-Up Trips
516
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Everyone’s Environment Grant
- Reef Catchments
- Cruise Whitsundays
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
- BMC
- Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing
- Keep Australia Beautiful Grant
2014
12,607 KGs COllected
41 Clean-Up Trips
404
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing
- Cruise Whitsundays
- Reef Catchments
- BMC
- Charter Yachts Australia
- Everyone’s Environment Grant
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
- Caring for our Country
2013
37,908 KGs COllected
52 Clean-Up Trips
495
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Reef Catchments
- BMC
- Charter Yachts Australia
- Everyone’s Environment Grant
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
- Caring for our Country
- Maritime Safety Queensland
- Whitsunday Regional Council
14,308 kg removed during marine debris removal trips
23,600 kg removed during Tropical Cyclone Oswald clean-up
2012
9,524 KGs COllected
19 Clean-Up Trips
199
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Reef Catchments
- Charter Yachts Australia
- Caring for our Country
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
- Fairholme College
2011
3,816 KGs COllected
13 Clean-Up Trips
80
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Reef Catchments
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
- True Blue Sailing
- Whitsunday Regional Council
2010
51,968 KGs COllected
22 Clean-Up Trips
166
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Reef Catchments
- Charter Yachts Australia
- Whitsunday Regional Council
- Whitsunday Lions Club
- Edges Boatyard
3,250 kg removed during marine debris removal trips
48,718 kg removed during Tropical Cyclone Ului clean-up
2009
3,757 KGs COllected
7 Clean-Up Trips
50
Volunteers
Thanks to:
- Reef Catchments
