THE NEED
Marine pollution along Mumbai’s coastline is a growing environmental concern, harming marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and public health. Every day, large volumes of waste — especially plastics — enter the ocean and wash back onto beaches, contributing to long-term shoreline pollution and ecological damage.
United Way Mumbai’s Clean Shores programme supports sustained shoreline waste management and environmental conservation by working closely with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), citizen volunteers, community groups and corporate partners to create cleaner, safer public beaches and strengthen responsible waste practices. Despite daily efforts by municipal workers, the scale of marine pollution and shoreline waste in Mumbai demands more frequent clean-up action, stronger citizen engagement, and improved community participation to reduce littering and promote responsible waste disposal. Marine pollution threatens: Coastal ecosystems and marine life Clean public access to beaches Local livelihoods dependent on healthy environments Public awareness and behaviour toward waste To truly transform shoreline cleanliness in Mumbai, long-term engagement, infrastructure support and public participation are critical.
SOLUTION
The Clean Shores initiative enhances traditional coastal clean-ups through a structured, multi-pronged approach that strengthens shoreline waste management, increases community involvement, and supports lasting behaviour change.
Corporates and individual donors can contribute to efforts that improve shoreline cleanliness and environmental stewardship in Mumbai.
By partnering with United Way Mumbai, you can:
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Support structured beach clean-ups and coastal conservation
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Fund infrastructure for consistent waste collection
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Enable awareness activities that build long-term behaviour change
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Strengthen community engagement and citizen participation
As a trusted environmental CSR implementation partner, United Way Mumbai ensures transparent execution, measurable results and alignment with corporate sustainability goals.
- Dustbins and waste receptacles
- Hand carts and cleaning materials
- Appeal boards with responsible disposal messaging
These facilities make waste collection and segregation easier and encourage responsible behaviour among beachgoers and local communities.
- Deploying additional cleaning personnel – Safai Saathis
- Organising structured beach clean-up activities
- Mobilising citizen volunteers, community groups and corporate teams
- Collected waste is segregated, measured and processed for responsible disposal or recycling in coordination with local authorities.
These drives promote waste segregation and recycling while building community ownership of coastal cleanliness.
- Murals along beaches
- Visual messaging on approach roads
These art-based interventions remind beachgoers of responsible disposal habits and support long-term behaviour change.
- Systematically removed from beaches in collaboration with MCGM
- Segregated by trained Safai Saathis
- Transported to authorised treatment centres for recycling
This sorted and processed waste is kept out of the coastline and reduces landfill burden.
- Local community representatives
- NGOs
- Municipal representatives
- Volunteer leaders
These task forces monitor beach conditions, coordinate clean-up activities, and encourage sustained citizen participation in preserving shoreline cleanliness.
