Operation Clean Sweep

06/22/2026

Volunteers needed for a first time ever cleanup of Smoking Rocks Beach in New Bedford. And it is very much needed.

06/17/2026

Smoking Rocks Beach Day.

Volunteers needed. A first time cleanup ever by Clean Sweep.

This famous William Allen Wall painting (image below) “Bartholemew Gosnold at Smoking Rocks” depicts the arrival of the first European to set foot in New Bedford. It can’t be proven, but it is said that he made “…landfall on the west side of the Acushnet River, somewhere around the South Terminal, northwest of Palmer’s Island in a spot called the ‘Smoking Rocks.'”

Volunteer Setup at 4 Silva Street, New Bedford, next to Bayline Boat Yard. Access via Fleet Fisheries right side.


There is mention of the meeting with Bartholamew Gosnold of some local Wampanoags before setting sail back to the Old World. Today there is a Bartholomew Gosnold Monument on Cuttyhunk.

Smoking Rocks beach head is in need for a big cleanup. A lot of plastic and wood.

Hope to see you on Smoking Rocks Beach. Saturday June 27 9-1

06/17/2026

Last year our volunteers removed over 16 tons of debris from the New Bedford / Fairhaven Harbor. How do you think this affects the marine life in our Harbor? Please stop trashing our waterways !

06/14/2026

Palmer Island looks beautiful again. 43 Volunteers removed 963.7 pounds of debris in just 4 hours on a hot 91 degree day. This was a collaboration with Be the Solution to Pollution. Special thanks to BASK for providing coffee and donuts and to Domino’s for providing Pizza.
Was great to see the team of Nautical Whalers Parrot Head Club continuing their quest to help beautify the environment.
Thank you to our special guest Al Rapoza who came all the way from Framingham to assist on Palmer Island. Al also does many cleanups with the “Keep Framingham Beautiful” organization.
Also to Mark Lavalee and Eric James who has gone above and beyond for special earlier cleanups on Palmer.
And to team members Lynn and Jan Coish for their support.
And all the 43 hard working Volunteers that made an incredible positive environmental difference on historic Palmer Island.
Clean Sweep is beyond grateful for every one of you.

06/08/2026

Volunteers needed for a cleanup of Historic Palmer Island.

05/29/2026

Volunteers needed

05/28/2026

05/23/2026

We are continuously removing so much trash from the New Bedford / Fairhaven Inner Harbor.

With respect for the Harbor, we are starting a new Campaign we call “Plus 1” in hopes we can reduce greatly all the trash that ends up in our beautiful shorelines !

What do you think ?