Beach season is finally upon us! This Memorial Day, people all over the country (myself included) will flock to the coasts to soak up some much-needed sunshine. But nothing ruins a good vacation day like a beach covered in trash—especially because  trash poses a huge threat to our ocean and the animals that call it home.

Ocean Conservancy is committed to keeping our beaches and ocean trash free. For 30 years we have sponsored the International Coastal Cleanup, where 11.5 million volunteers from 153 countries have collected 220 million pounds of trash. And we’re not the only ones who care about ocean trash: Every day, all over the world, concerned people take the problem into their own hands by cleaning up their local waterways.

Now we have a way to make your beach cleanups more exciting than ever (as if protecting our ocean wasn’t enough!). Introducing our brand-new Clean Swell app: a fun and easy way to keep track of the trash you collect. The app is free and available to download on both iOS and Android systems.

With Clean Swell, simply “Start Collecting” wherever you are around the world and record every item of trash you pick up. The data you collect will instantaneously upload to Ocean Conservancy’s global ocean trash database. This delivers a global snapshot of the ocean trash problem and provides researchers and policy-makers insight to inform solutions. You can even check your “Cleanup History”, so anytime, anywhere, you can see the impact you’ve had on making our ocean a cleaner and healthier ecosystem.

Here are some of the app highlights:

• Track your progress: We’re making it easier than ever to see the long-term impact your cleanups have on the ocean. See the total distance cleaned, the total weight of the trash you collect and a historical record of your cleanup efforts.
• Contribute to science: When you add to Ocean Conservancy’s global ocean trash database, you’re helping to create ocean trash solutions by identifying trends. The app also provides scientific facts about the impact of trash on ocean animals and shares tips on how you can help.
• Share your results: You can share your cleanup results and photos with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email right from the app.

Join us in a global movement to keep beaches, waterways and the ocean trash free. This weekend, while you’re enjoying some quality beach time, don’t forget to collect any trash you may see and use Clean Swell to record your efforts! The ocean, and the people and animals that rely on it, will thank you.