Now in its sixth year, Clean Up Florida Waters encourages Realtors, local associations and residents to organize or take part in cleanup events in their communities. The effort includes cleanups along lakes, rivers, streams, retention ponds, bays, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

“Realtors know that Florida’s beautiful beaches and waterways are a big reason so many people love to live in – and visit – the Sunshine State,” said 2026 Florida Realtors President Chuck Bonfiglio Jr., broker-owner of AAA Realty Group in Plantation.

Last year’s cleanup effort drew nearly 2,050 volunteers to 134 local events across the state. Together, they logged 717 hours removing debris from 239 miles of waterways. In all, volunteers removed almost 16 tons of trash – about the weight of six full-size school buses.

Some of the items found during last year’s cleanups were surprising, ranging from a freezer and street signs to a box of rolled quarters and even a full bottle of sake.

The annual effort gives Realtors and local associations another way to show their commitment to the communities they serve. By helping protect Florida’s waterways, Realtors are supporting the places, neighborhoods and natural resources that make Florida home.

Local Realtor groups are encouraged to partner with environmental organizations, including Coastal Conservation Association chapters, state Waterkeepers organizations, Captains for Clean Water, Keep Florida Beautiful affiliates and other local cleanup groups.

Florida Realtors is a Keep Florida Beautiful Gold Sun Level partner, allowing local Keep Florida Beautiful affiliate organizations to work with Realtor groups on local waterway cleanup efforts.

Stellar MLS is the main sponsor for Florida Realtors’ Clean Up Florida Waters. Additional sponsors are Coast 2 Coast MLS Data Share and Coastal Conservation Association Florida.

For more information about the event or to see where some local Realtor associations are doing cleanups, go to Florida Realtors Clean Up Florida Waters.