Clean Up Cairns

Host or join a Clean Up this September!

Register your community, school or business Clean Up event with Clean Up Australia and let us know how we can support you.

Join a Clean Up near you. See dates and locations below - more will be added soon.

Every September, Council partners with Clean Up Australia to Clean Up Cairns.

A little litter is a big problem. Every piece of litter we leave on the ground can make its way into the sea, putting the Reef's marine life and delicate ecosystem at risk.

Since 2019, more than 1340 community members have volunteered their time at 86 clean-ups removing large amount - estimated at 221 wheelie bins or more than 9,503 tonnes - of debris, rubbish and litter!

Join us this September to help remove plastic bottles, food packaging, toys, household items, cooking items and discarded clothes plus significant number of large items including rusty bikes, crab pots, timber, road sign, old tent, and shopping trolleys from our local parks, beaches, wetlands and waterways.

Upcoming Events

Clean Up East Trinity

Other

Saturday 5 September 2026

8:30 am

East Trinity (travel by boat from Cairns Marina)
Clean Up Freshwater Creek (Glenoma Park)

Other

Sunday 6 September 2026

8:00 am

Glenoma Park, Brinsmead
Clean Up Manoora (Woodward Park)

Other

Saturday 12 September 2026

Woodwood Park, Pease St, Manoora
Clean Up Gubuda/Gordonvale - Greenpatch Walk

Other

Sunday 13 September 2026

Norman Park, Gordonvale
Clean Up Babinda

Other

Saturday 19 September 2026

8:00 am

Rotary Park, Babinda
Big Butt Hunt (Clean Up Cairns)

Other

Sunday 20 September 2026

Taxi rank, corner McLeod Street and Shields Street, Cairns city
Clean Up Moody Creek

Other

Saturday 26 September 2026

Manoora Community Garden, Moody Creek Park
Clean Up Yorkey's Knob beach

Other

Saturday 26 September 2026

11:00 am

90 Simms Esplanade, Yorkeys Knob QLD
Clean Up Lily Creek (World Rivers Day)

Other

Sunday 27 September 2026

32 Minnie Street (intersection with Lily Creek), Cairns city

2026 Clean Up Cairns events

Date	Start time	Meeting point	Clean up location	Host
Saturday 5 September	9am	From Cairns Marina by boat (limited places, bookings essential) OR meet onsite at Giangura Esplanade, East Trinity at 9:30am	East Trinity beaches and bund wall	Mandingalbay Aboriginal Corporation and Authentic Tours
Sunday 6 September	8am	Glenoma Park, Brinsmead	Freshwater Creek	Treeforce
Saturday 12 September	9am	Woodward Park, Edge Hill	Edge Hill	OzFish + Gimuy Rangers
Sunday 13 September	9am	Norman Park, Gordonvale	Norman Park to Greenpatch	Dulabed and Malanbara Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation
Saturday 19 September	8am	Rotary Park, Babinda	Babinda Creek	Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation
Sunday 20 September	9am	Cairns Central taxi rank	Cairns CBD	No More Butts + Gimuy Rangers
Saturday 26 September	9am	Manoora Community Garden	Moody Creek	Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Rangers and Elders Corporation
Saturday 26 September	9am	Simms Esplanade (just north of the public toilet block), Yorkeys Knob	Yorkeys Knob beach	Tangaroa Blue
Sunday 27 September	9am	Minnie St / Lily Creek intersection, Cairns City	Lily Creek	FNQ Rotaract

A little litter is a big problem

These Clean Ups are a key initiative under our Reef Guardian Council Action Plan, and help protect the Great Barrier Reef by improving the health of our urban waterways and reducing litter in our oceans.

See below a few messages worth sharing from our Traditional Owner Rangers and young people A Little Litter, Is A Big Problem!

Cleaning up your neighbourhood – anytime!

Did you know that cleaning up your local area doesn’t have to be limited to September? While Clean Up Cairns is a fantastic annual event, you can host a clean-up at any time of the year!

Organising a clean-up is a great way to:

Protect local wildlife and waterways
Reduce litter and pollution
Bring your community together for a positive cause

Ready to make a difference?

Register your event with Clean Up Australia and let us know how we can support you. Whether you need advice, resources, or promotional help, we’re here to assist in making your clean-up a success. Contact the Sustainability Team at sustainability@cairns.qld.gov.au

Together, we can keep Cairns beautiful—one clean-up at a time!