Try out CLEAN Beach citizen science sampling kit in Estonia!

Citizen science microplastic sampling kits are now available in Estonia as part of the CLEAN Beach project. The kits can be borrowed from Pirita Library in Tallinn, giving everyone interested in the marine environment an opportunity to take part in practical microplastic monitoring.

Each sampling kit contains the basic equipment needed for beach sand sampling together with illustrated information materials and instructions explaining how to collect a sample and where to report the findings. The kits are designed to make microplastic sampling understandable and accessible also for people without a scientific background.

The sampling can be carried out at Pirita Beach or at any other suitable sandy beach in Estonia. After sampling, the kit should be returned to Pirita Library so that it can be used by other environmental enthusiasts.

The aim is not only to collect observations, but also to help citizens better understand how microplastics are monitored and why reliable information about plastic pollution on Baltic Sea beaches is important. The CLEAN Beach project is developing and testing simple and cost-effective approaches for monitoring microplastics in beach sand that are better adapted to Baltic Sea conditions.

Participants are also encouraged to report their observations through the Rosgis platform, which is being introduced in Estonia through the CLEAN Beach project. In this way, citizen observations can support wider monitoring efforts and contribute to increasing knowledge about litter and microplastic pollution along the Baltic Sea coast. The same citizen-science approach is already being implemented by CLEAN Beach partners in Latvia and Finland, where similar sampling kits have been made available to beach visitors.

Interested in becoming a citizen scientist?
Borrow a CLEAN Beach sampling kit from Pirita Library, take it with you to a sandy beach, follow the sampling instructions and explore what can be found in the beach sand. Every observation helps raise awareness of microplastic pollution and supports the development of better monitoring practices for Baltic Sea beaches.