Ulm / Hamburg – 22 September 2026. What began at individual locations became a Europe-wide joint action on 18 and 19 September 2026: as part of Europe's Biggest Cleanup, initiated by the retail company Müller and MBRC THE OCEAN, more than 1,000 people in 17 Cleaning Hubs took part in cleanups along coasts, rivers and lakes.
The results at a glance
- More than 1,000 volunteers
- 17 Cleaning Hubs in 13 countries
- 2,500 kilograms of waste collected
Inspired by World Cleanup Day, the action connected cleanups on coasts, rivers and lakes. Müller locations in Germany, Croatia, Spain and Hungary were among those involved, and many Müller employees joined in on their own initiative alongside volunteers who came through Müller and MBRC THE OCEAN.
Coasts, rivers – and the Danube for the first time
The largest collections took place at MBRC THE OCEAN's coastal locations. The established Müller Cleaning Hubs in Croatia and Mallorca were important anchor points. New locations in Germany and Hungary complemented the action: with the new Cleaning Hub in Hungary, cleanups were held along the Danube for the first time in 2026. Rivers can carry waste over long distances – cleanups on riverbanks start earlier, before waste is carried further.
In Sankt Peter-Ording, Europe's Biggest Cleanup teamed up with the FLENS Küstenwette: together with the Tourismus-Zentrale Sankt Peter-Ording, the Beach Motel Sankt Peter-Ording and the Flensburger Brauerei, residents and guests cleaned the beach along three routes. The day ended with an exclusive concert by Ingo Pohlmann for all helpers.
Collecting together, raising awareness
Sascha Zahner, member of the management board at Müller, said that anyone who has taken part in a cleanup sees the issue differently – within a few hours, amounts come together that show how important prevention and joint action are.
The partnership between Müller and MBRC THE OCEAN combines two approaches: Cleaning & Recycling removes waste from water and coastal areas and, where possible, sends it to suitable recycling routes. Education complements this with learning and awareness formats that encourage avoiding waste from the start. The Cleaning Hubs serve as local bases for recurring activities. A cleanup does not replace waste prevention – but it shows what people can achieve together on site.
The story started in 2023 with the first Cleaning Hub in Croatia.