As we grapple with challenges of beaches during this Clean beach week of 2025, let’s head to most dirty and populated ones to get a clear shot of what we are facing:
Here’s a list of some of the most polluted (dirtiest) beaches around the world, based on reported environmental degradation, plastic waste, sewage dumping, and water quality issues. These beaches have gained attention from environmental groups, media reports, and studies due to unsafe or unhygienic conditions:
🌍 Dirtiest Beaches in the World:
Kamilo Beach, Hawaii (USA)
Nicknamed “Plastic Beach”
Covered with plastic waste carried by ocean currents (Great Pacific Garbage Patch)
Guanabara Bay Beaches, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste
Water often contains high levels of bacteria
Juhu Beach, Mumbai (India)
Heavily littered, especially after festivals and monsoon
Regularly cleaned, but pollution keeps returning
Manila Bay, Manila (Philippines)
Historically known for extreme plastic and sewage pollution
Efforts underway to rehabilitate it
Blackpool Beach, Lancashire (UK)
Often receives poor water quality ratings
High bacteria levels after rainfall due to sewage overflows
Haina Beach, Dominican Republic
Located near one of the most toxic industrial zones in the Caribbean
Pollution from heavy metals and waste dumping
Port Phillip Bay Beaches, Melbourne (Australia)
Microplastics and urban runoff cause environmental concern
Some beaches face high E. coli levels
Serrekunda Beach, Gambia
Affected by both plastic waste and nearby sewage discharge
Local efforts are working to improve cleanliness
Citarum River Mouth Beaches, West Java (Indonesia)
Citarum is considered one of the most polluted rivers; its waste spills onto nearby beaches
Beaches near Accra (Ghana) – e.g., Labadi Beach
Plastic and human waste pollution
Sanitation is a major concern despite tourist popularity
⚠️ Why Are These Beaches Dirty?
Poor waste management systems
Tourism-related littering
Industrial and sewage discharge
Lack of environmental regulations and enforcement
Ocean currents depositing offshore waste
Plastic waste, industrial content, tourist liters and weather effects may be core elements, but there is much more to it, so let's get united in cleaning them.
Let’s try to fix the major problems as we indulged upon cleaning the beaches and making a better future together, Goodluck.
