Environmental groups map 50 dirty beaches in Taiwan

環保組織繪製台灣50個髒海灘地圖

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Environmental groups have identified 50 heavily polluted beaches across Taiwan, warning that volunteer cleanup efforts remain concentrated at a handful of popular locations while many litter-strewn coastlines receive little attention, per CNA.

The findings come ahead of World Ocean Day on Monday, as beach cleanups are held around Taiwan to remove marine debris and raise awareness about ocean conservation.

"The locations for beach cleanups are too concentrated, leading to an uneven distribution of resources," said Tsai Sheng-yen (蔡昇諺), project manager of the Taiwan Rethinking Environmental Education Association.

According to data from the Ministry of Environment, more than 10,000 beach cleanup events have been held annually in recent years, attracting approximately 170,000 participants each year.

The ministry's latest coastal survey found that Taiwan's west coast (Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan) contains the largest share of marine debris, accounting for 37% of the national total. The Kaohsiung-Pingtung coastline accounted for 11%, while outlying islands accounted for 11%, with Kinmen 12% and Matsu 9%.

Statistics from the ministry's "Salute to the Sea" coastal cleanup program showed that Taoyuan recorded the highest number of cleanup applications last year, with four popular cleanup sites. New Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung each had two sites among the most frequently visited locations.

In contrast, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan, are areas identified as requiring additional cleanup efforts. They did not appear among the top 10 most popular cleanup destinations.

Tsai said beach cleanup organizers often select locations based on practical considerations such as accessibility, parking availability, restroom facilities, and sufficient space to accommodate large groups of volunteers, per CNA.

To address the imbalance, Re-think partnered with the Scout Association to survey 146 beaches nationwide. Based on the results, the groups compiled a National Dirty Coastline Map highlighting 50 beaches in need of cleanup efforts. The map classifies beaches as "clean," "decent," or "dirty" and evaluates their potential for improvement through volunteer cleanup activities.

Chen Ren-ping (陳人平), CEO of Hiin Studio, which organizes corporate beach cleanups, said event planners tailor cleanup locations based on the age and number of participants. Smaller groups composed primarily of adults are often directed to more remote and heavily polluted beaches.

Chen said organizers have also experimented with cleanup routes that require participants to walk farther before reaching the shoreline, increasing the amount of litter collected along the way.

Some beaches, however, remain difficult to attract volunteers to. Chen cited the rocky coastline at Waimushan in Keelung and industrial coastal areas in Linkou as examples of locations that are frequently overlooked because of difficult terrain or complex access routes.

To improve coverage of hard-to-reach coastlines, Re-think has expanded cooperation with local organizations. Tsai said the group trained nine beach cleanup leaders last year and established partnerships with six local organizations to provide on-site support.

One example is Fengchuisha Beach in Pingtung County, where large amounts of marine debris have accumulated because of the area's remote location. Re-think partnered with a local dive shop whose operators have a direct stake in the health of the surrounding marine environment.

The organization said its localized approach has helped direct corporate funding and volunteer resources toward priority cleanup sites. As a result, the amount of trash removed from severely polluted beaches increased from 6,842 kg in 2024 to 10,410 kg in 2025.