Clean Up Australia

What Clean Up Australia does

Clean Up Australia is a registered Australian charity founded in 1989 by Ian Kiernan, AO, that mobilises community-based environmental action across Australia. Its core offering is an event platform anchored by two annual flagship campaigns: Clean Up Australia Day on the first Sunday in March (over 750,000 participants in 8,000+ events) and the Great Spring Clean Up in September–October. Individuals, families, schools, and businesses register for free events and receive free Clean Up kits (bags, gloves, safety equipment) distributed nationally via Amazon, with public liability insurance included. The organisation also operates an Education Hub with curriculum-linked lesson plans (in partnership with Cool.org), an annual Litter Report compiled from citizen-science data since 1991 and used by CSIRO and government bodies, and a growing portfolio of waste-specific resource centres covering food waste, fast fashion, vapes, e-waste, batteries, circular economy, and the Australian Repair Network.

The technology stack is intentionally lean: a self-service online registration portal (register.cleanup.org.au), a litter-tracking app deployed under Google.org's US$1.5 million Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Program administered by Infoxchange, and an e-commerce store for branded merchandise. Headquarters sit at Level 9, 255 George Street, Sydney, with a small staff of 1–10 employees supported by a 251-council partner network and tiered corporate sponsors including Coles, McDonald's, Amazon, Unilever, Cleanaway, Oates, and Peters (Drumstick).

The revenue model blends four streams: (1) tax-deductible individual donations and workplace giving, (2) tiered corporate partnerships (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Education, Founding), (3) paid business offerings (DIY events at $250+GST per site, bespoke multi-site programs, and a 'Change Makers' revenue-share workshop generating a minimum $500+GST per session), and (4) government and foundation grants (FY25 grantors include the Australian Government, NSW EPA, Queensland Government, City of Sydney, Minderoo Foundation, Pratt Foundation, Adobe Employee Community Fund, and Infoxchange). Total cumulative impact includes 23 million volunteers, 16,320 cleaned sites, 2,154,254 volunteer hours, and 4,405 school clean-ups to date.

Name

Clean Up Australia

Legal name

Clean Up Australia

Website

https://cleanup.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Up Australia is a registered Australian charity founded in 1989 that mobilises community-led environmental cleanups nationwide, serving individuals, schools, businesses, 251 councils, and government partners through flagship events, free Clean Up kits, education programs, and an annual citizen-science Litter Report.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Community Mobilization Services

NAICS

Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562219), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPALAAAE

Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning)

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Municipal Solid Waste Collection & Hauling

SECONDARYBPAIACAH

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Environmental volunteering
• Community cleanup events
• Waste prevention education
• Litter data reporting
• Corporate sustainability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Clean Up Australia receives tax-deductible donations from individuals via its website (PayPal, direct online), workplace giving programs, raffle ticket sales (Play for Purpose), and bequests/legacy giving. Donations fund free Clean Up kits and educational resources for volunteers.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Tiered corporate partner program (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Education, Founding Partners) provides key funding. Partners include Coles, Peters (Drumstick), Cleanaway, Oates, Amazon, Coles Liquor, Unilever, and McDonald's. Partnerships include kit funding, distribution, and cause-marketing.
3. Business Event Fees: Businesses pay $250+GST per site for DIY Clean Up events, which subsidises free community and school kits. Multi-site team engagement and 'Change Makers' team-building workshops generate additional revenue, with 50% of net profit (minimum $500+GST) flowing to Clean Up Australia.
4. Government Grants: Government and foundation grants fund specific programs and projects. FY25 grantors include Australian Government, NSW EPA, Queensland Government, City of Sydney, Great Barrier Reef Marine Debris Management, Minderoo Foundation, Pratt Foundation, Adobe Employee Community Fund, and Infoxchange.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Clean Up Australia mobilises Australian communities, schools, and businesses to participate in volunteer-led environmental cleanup events, providing free Clean Up kits, public liability insurance, and event registration through an online platform. It runs the flagship annual Clean Up Australia Day (first Sunday in March), The Great Spring Clean Up (September-October), targeted Clean Up Projects with partner councils, paid Business Clean Up events, and Change Makers team-building workshops. The organisation also publishes an annual Litter Report (since 1991), runs an Education Hub with curriculum-linked school resources, and operates advocacy and merchandise channels to advance waste prevention and circular economy outcomes.

Product overview

Clean Up Australia operates as a nonprofit environmental organization offering a platform of event-based and educational products centered on community cleanup initiatives and waste prevention. The core offering consists of Clean Up Australia Day (annual flagship event held on the first Sunday in March) and The Great Spring Clean Up (seasonal counterpart in September-October), both supported by free Clean Up Kits distributed to registered participants. Adjacent to the event platform, the organization provides an Education Hub with curriculum-aligned resources for schools, an annual Litter Report compiling citizen science data, and various waste-specific resource centers covering food waste, fast fashion, vapes, e-waste, batteries, and circular economy topics. The product also includes advocacy and partnership programs for businesses, councils, and government bodies, alongside a Shop for branded merchandise. The portfolio functions as a unified community mobilization platform connecting volunteers with cleanup opportunities while delivering environmental education through multiple resource channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clean Up Australia Day
• The Great Spring Clean Up
• Clean Up Projects
• Business Clean Up Events (DIY)
• Change Makers Team-Building Workshops
• Education Hub
• Litter Report
• Clean Up Australia Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 23 million volunteers have participated since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered gold partner, silver partner, bronze partner, education partner, founding partner, core, key and minor.

• Peters (Drumstick)gold partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Partner. Drumstick has pledged to help fund Clean Up Kits, empowering Aussies to run their own local Clean Ups. Partnership focuses on protecting places where people live, work, and play.
• Colesgold partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Partner. Partnership began when single-use plastic bags were removed from Coles supermarkets in mid-2018. Coles continues to raise funds to support Clean Up Australia in its mission to inspire and mobilise communities.
• Cleanawaysilver partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner. 2026 marks 10 years of partnership between Clean Up Australia and Cleanaway. Partnership is founded on shared values to make a sustainable future possible together.
• Oatessilver partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner. Oates brings 130 years of combined cleaning experience and aims to promote sustainability and responsible waste disposal to all Australians.
• Amazonsilver partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner. Amazon supports Clean Up Australia by distributing hundreds of thousands of Clean Up kits for Clean Up Australia Day across the nation via Amazon's logistics network.
• Coles Liquorbronze partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Partner. Coles Liquor supports Clean Up Australia by donating 50c from each bottle of Drop of Good sold, contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
• Unilevereducation partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Partner. Unilever is re-designing packaging to use less plastic and make it easier to recycle. Together with Unilever, Clean Up Australia aims to eliminate litter and mobilise Australians. Unilever also funds resources and curriculum-linked lesson plans for schools.
• McDonald's Australiafounding partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Partner. McDonald's has supported Clean Up Australia since its inception in 1989. Each Clean Up Australia Day campaign, McDonald's restaurants across Australia get involved and support the effort to remove litter.
• Hickmans | Hunt & HuntcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHonorary Lawyers providing commercial legal advice at no or reduced cost, and taking part in Clean Up Australia Day each year. Also supports organisations through sponsorships, pro bono advice, committee, and board memberships.
• Ernst & Young (EY)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides auditing services and practical advice to the Clean Up Australia team at no or reduced cost.
• Spark Foundry AustraliacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFull-service media agency with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Provides media buying services across Television, Out-of-Home, Digital, and Print to amplify Clean Up Australia's message.
• UberbrandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFull-service branding agency based in Sydney providing design, digital marketing, and strategic planning skills to raise awareness and amplify Clean Up Australia's mission.
• Ubuntu FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Carolyn Vincent, Ubuntu Foundation fosters unity and addresses disconnects between community and environment. Supports Clean Up Australia's work through community Clean Up events across Queensland, helping people connect with each other and the environment.
• Infoxchange (Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Program)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfoxchange administered the Google.org-funded Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Program, under which Clean Up Australia developed a litter-tracking app as part of its AI-powered solutions for nonprofits.
• Landscape Recovery FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with Clean Up Australia and East Coast Catchments for the Great East Coast Clean Up — one month of community environmental action across beaches, parks, and waterways along Tasmania's east coast.
• No More ButtskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental charity advocating for protection from tobacco product waste impacts. In collaboration with Clean Up Australia, compiled a first-of-its-kind resource listing all current safe disposal places for vapes in Australia.
• CitizenBluekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerCitizenBlue mobilises involvement in the NSW Return and Earn container deposit scheme through its inner Sydney depot. Clean Up Australia is a proud beneficiary, with CitizenBlue contributing to combating waste pollution in Sydney.
• The Laptop InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational campaign partner redirecting usable laptops from landfill into the hands of people who need them, in partnership with Clean Up Australia.
• Tasman CouncilkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting 'Let's Clean Up Our Patch' — a month-long Clean Up initiative to tidy up the Tasman and Forestier Peninsula, supported since 2019.
• Albury City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 'Greening the Green' program working with local sporting organisations to reduce soft plastic waste and support the circular economy.
• Tamar Natural Resource ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRuns 'Catch it in the Catchment' yearly campaign in partnership with Clean Up Australia, catching litter from the Tamar estuary catchment in Tasmania.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Keep Britain Tidy: UK-based environmental charity running flagship campaigns (Great British Spring Clean, Tidy Britain) on a comparable event-driven volunteer mobilisation model. Same playbook applied to a different geography with similar council partnerships and litter data publications.

Direct peers

• Keep America Beautiful: Established US nonprofit (founded 1953) focused on litter prevention, community beautification, and recycling. Comparable national-scale volunteer mobilisation, branded flagship events, corporate partner ecosystem (Coca-Cola, etc.), and litter data publications.
• Ocean Conservancy: US-based ocean conservation nonprofit best known for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), a flagship annual volunteer cleanup event with citizen-science data collection. Closest international analogue to Clean Up Australia Day in structure, scale, and data-output model.
• Surfrider Foundation: US-based environmental nonprofit focused on beach and waterway protection through volunteer cleanups and policy advocacy. Highly comparable event-driven volunteer mobilisation model, citizen-science beach cleanup data, and corporate partnership funding mix.
• Tangaroa Blue Foundation: Australian marine debris nonprofit operating the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) with citizen-science data collection across thousands of cleanup sites. Direct peer in citizen-science litter data methodology and Australian volunteer mobilisation.
• Take 3 for the Sea: Australian nonprofit focused on reducing plastic pollution in oceans through the simple 'take 3 pieces of rubbish' behavioural message. Comparable Australian footprint, education-led volunteer mobilisation, and school engagement programs.
• Keep Australia Beautiful: Australia's other major community-based environmental mobilisation nonprofit. Directly comparable in mission (litter prevention, community cleanups), national scope, and Tidy/Clean Up event model — operating the long-running Tidy Towns program and similar council/corporate partnerships.
• Plastic Free Foundation: Australian-based nonprofit behind Plastic Free July, a global movement mobilising households and businesses to reduce single-use plastic. Directly comparable in Australian origin, community-led behavioural change model, and corporate partnership model.
• Planet Ark: Australian environmental nonprofit focused on recycling, circular economy, and resource efficiency. Comparable Australian base, corporate partnership model (National Recycling Week), and education-driven behaviour change mandate — adjacent verticals (recycling vs cleanup) with overlapping stakeholders.

Emerging players

• Litterati: App-based platform that crowdsources litter data collection through geotagged photos. Closest technology peer to Clean Up Australia's litter-tracking app deployment, with overlapping citizen-science mission and corporate ESG data products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cleanupaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleanupaustralia
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanupaustralia
• TikToktiktok.com/@cleanupaustralia
• Xx.com/abbeyaylishlizz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean Up Australia