Our Mission
Costa Clean Project is dedicated to protecting and preserving coastal environments through cleanups, education, and outreach, while engaging Hispanic communities and making environmental resources accessible.
Protecting our coasts. Connecting our communities. Inspiring action.
Impact
1,200
pounds of trash
4
counties
8
locations
Past Cleanups
During our first event series, we recovered over 1,200 pounds of trash across four different counties!
December 2023
18 lbs removed
51 lbs removed
52 lbs removed
51 lbs removed
12 lbs removed
44 lbs removed
64 lbs removed
225 lbs removed
332 lbs removed
January 2024
19 lbs removed
227 lbs removed
124 lbs removed
Our Reach
One of the pillars of Costa Clean Project is connecting communities. While we’re based in Florida, our mission extends far beyond state lines. Each month, we travel to new places across the U.S. to host cleanups, collaborate with local organizations, and exchange ideas on what’s working in their communities. By learning from others and sharing what we’ve learned ourselves, we’re building a nationwide network of people who care about protecting their coasts, parks, and waterways.
| State | Status | Pounds Recovered | Events Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Active | 1208 | 12 |
| New York | Visited | 40 | 1 |
| Arizona | Planned | - | - |
| California | Planned | - | - |
| Illinois | Planned | - | - |
About
Costa Clean Project began as a community initiative named 12 Days of Cleanups (12 DOC) which initially started in 2023. The original 12 Days of Cleanups took place across four different counties and recovered over 1,200 pounds of trash in its first month.Throughout the process of 12 DOC, the founders realized much more could be done beyond cleanup. Litter prevention starts with education and engagement, and one major gap they noticed was the need for organic Spanish environmental education that went beyond signs that had been awkwardly translated with an app rather than a native Spanish speaker. They also noticed that in many places, even people who wanted to do the right thing faced unnecessary obstacles: too few trash cans, bins placed far away, or areas that simply made disposal inconvenient.Costa Clean Project was created to expand our impact by not only continuing cleanups but also connecting communities, making environmental education more accessible, and working to improve systems to make litter disposal convenient and easy.
Protecting our coasts. Connecting our communities. Inspiring action.
Our Journey
Impact
1,200+
pounds of trash
4
counties
8
locations
Past Cleanups
During our first event series, we recovered over 1,200 pounds of trash across 4 different counties!
December 2023
18 lbs removed
51 lbs removed
52 lbs removed
51 lbs removed
12 lbs removed
44 lbs removed
64 lbs removed
225 lbs removed
332 lbs removed
January 2024
19 lbs removed
227 lbs removed
124 lbs removed
Our Reach
One of the pillars of Costa Clean Project is connecting communities. While we’re based in Florida, our mission extends far beyond state lines. Each month, we travel to new places across the U.S. to host cleanups, collaborate with local organizations, and exchange ideas on what’s working in their communities. By learning from others and sharing what we’ve learned ourselves, we’re building a nationwide network of people who care about protecting their coasts, parks, and waterways.
| State | Status | Pounds Recovered | Events Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Active | 1,208 | 12 |
| New York | Visited | 40 | 1 |
| Arizona | Planned | - | - |
| California | Planned | - | - |
| Illinois | Planned | - | - |
Our Reach
One of the pillars of Costa Clean Project is connecting communities. While we’re based in Florida, our mission extends far beyond state lines. Each month, we travel to new places across the U.S. to host cleanups, collaborate with local organizations, and exchange ideas on what’s working in their communities. By learning from others and sharing what we’ve learned ourselves, we’re building a nationwide network of people who care about protecting their coasts, parks, and waterways.
| State | Status | Pounds Recovered | Events Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Active | 1208 | 12 |
| New York | Visited | 40 | 1 |
| Arizona | Planned | - | - |
| California | Planned | - | - |
| Illinois | Planned | - | - |
Our Story
In 2023, founder Natalie went fishing at the Skyway Pier and was shocked by the trash piled in the rocks. Determined to take action, she organized 12 Days of Cleanups, a series of twelve events across four counties. Through countless hours of planning, coordination, and hands-on cleanup, the initiative removed over 1,200 pounds of trash, including 500 pounds from the Skyway Pier alone.During the cleanups, Natalie and Sarah formed a strong partnership. Sarah played an essential role in the operations of 12 Days of Cleanups, being hands-on at the events and helping make each cleanup run smoothly. Together, they built momentum and community engagement, turning 12 Days of Cleanups into a meaningful, signature event series.In 2025, 12 Days of Cleanups officially grew into Costa Clean Project, a nonprofit organization with 12 DOC becoming one of its signature event series. Along the way, the team recognized larger needs: the lack of accessible environmental education for Hispanic communities, the importance of prevention alongside cleanups, and the value of building a community united around coastal protection. With these goals in mind, Costa Clean Project was born, becoming dedicated to protecting our coasts, educating and connecting our communities, and inspiring action.At the heart of Costa Clean Project is a simple belief that everyone has the power to make a difference. Stronger, healthier, more connected communities are built when individuals take initiative.
Board of Directors
Natalie Huertas, President and Director
Natalie is a Sarasota local with Colombian roots who developed a passion for environmental science at a young age. In high school, she completed a three-year internship with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which fueled her interest in ecology and conservation. Around the same time, she began scientific diving with SCUBAnauts International, gaining hands-on experience in coral restoration and benthic surveys. Over the years, she has stayed deeply involved in marine conservation through sea turtle patrol, oyster restoration, seagrass and scallop surveys, fish tagging, and countless community cleanups.Alongside her field experience, Natalie has worked in business operations and finance, giving her a strong foundation in organization and leadership. As a bilingual advocate, she is especially passionate about engaging Sarasota’s Hispanic community in environmental stewardship and creating opportunities for more people to connect with the ocean. Through Costa Clean Project, she works to unite people of all backgrounds in caring for the coastlines she loves. When she’s not in the water, Natalie enjoys reading, traveling, and volunteering.
Manuel Rivera, Vice President and Director
Manny was raised in Sarasota County and has always been an active member of his community. He has been passionate about service and grassroots action since childhood, when he regularly participated in beach cleanups, fundraisers for St. Jude, volunteer projects supporting nursing home dementia patients, and other community initiatives through organizations such as the Young Marines, Student Government, and Health Occupations Students of America. Of Latin and Arab heritage, Manny brings a global perspective to his work. He is pursuing studies in Global Political Economy and Business Economics, with the long-term goal of becoming an international lawyer and diplomat. His academic path reflects his commitment to understanding systems of power and economic development, locally and internationally.Professionally, he has taken on roles that have sharpened his leadership, analytical, and advocacy skills. Through his work with Angeles Investors, where he gained experience tracking company and portfolio performance, he played a key role in developing the Angeles Foundation, which provides financial literacy education and business strategy support to the Latin community. His work with Scholars for Social Justice highlights his ability to connect research, law, and policy by examining the political and educational challenges facing Latin and Middle Eastern communities in the United States. In his free time, Manny enjoys learning languages, traveling, going to the gym, and reading comics.
Sarah Sudhop, Treasurer and Director
Sarah moved to Sarasota from Indiana in 2020, where she quickly fell in love with Florida’s natural beauty. Her passion for animals began years earlier while working at an animal rescue, an experience that inspired her to dedicate her life to protecting both animals and the environment. One of her dreams is to one day open her own rescue for animals of all kinds.With many years of leadership experience as a supervisor and general manager, Sarah brings strong organizational and people skills to Costa Clean Project. She became a pivotal part of the organization when it first launched as a community initiative in 2023, helping plan and coordinate the inaugural 12 Days of Cleanups. Sarah believes we are blessed to live on such a beautiful planet, and that by caring for the Earth and observing wildlife, we can learn valuable lessons about balance and resilience. Outside of her role with Costa Clean Project, Sarah’s favorite places to be are exploring local nature preserves or sitting by the beach, watching the ocean. At home, she enjoys the company of her beloved rescue pets - her dog, Nugget, and her cat, Sophie.
Cameron Kemker, Secretary and Director
Cameron was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, where he grew up fishing, diving, and exploring Florida’s unique biodiversity. At 13, he earned his Open Water scuba certification and soon became an avid diver with a love for both native wildlife and the Everglades, where he can often be found searching for snakes, amphibians, and the occasional invasive python. He is currently pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida.Cameron began his path in conservation through SCUBAnauts International, where he gained extensive scientific diving experience and training in coral and fish survey methodologies. Through the program, he worked alongside Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the Coral Restoration Foundation, contributing to coral nursery maintenance and restoration efforts. Outside of diving, Cameron enjoys herping and fishing.
Emma Mancini, Director
Emma was born and raised in Florida, where her passion for the environment began early. Her father ran the Deep Sea Diner inside Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, giving her an upbringing surrounded by people dedicated to marine science and conservation. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Business Management, where she developed strong skills in event planning, fundraising, and community engagement through her leadership roles with Bull Appétit and Phi Chi Theta.Emma brings a thoughtful mix of business insight, organizational talent, and hands-on leadership experience to Costa Clean Project. In her work at USF, she coordinated fundraising initiatives, managed sponsorship outreach, and helped build programs designed to educate and connect diverse groups of people - experience that now supports CCP’s growing community and education efforts. She is passionate about making environmental work accessible and meaningful and has a natural ability to bring people together around a shared mission. Outside her professional interests, Emma enjoys paddleboarding and spending time outdoors, activities that continue to inspire her commitment to protecting Florida’s natural spaces.
12 Days of Cleanups
12 Days of Cleanups is our event series of cleanups hosted throughout the month of December that serves as a meaningful way to give back to our communities during the bustling holiday season while giving you the flexibility to choose from twelve different dates and locations for your convenience.
This movement spans across
four different counties:
Pinellas
Hillsborough
Sarasota
Manatee
In 2023,
We successfully hosted cleanups at
12 events
collectively removing an impressive
1,208 pounds
of debris from our communities.
Get Involved
Be on the lookout for more events in the future and connect with us on our socials. Stay in the loop and sign up to be notified about future cleanups and volunteer opportunities as we plan our next events!
Collaborate
Let's make a difference together.
At Costa Clean Project, we believe in the power of community and collaboration. We can accomplish more together!
Co-Host, Volunteer, or Sponsor
We welcome businesses, clubs, schools, and organizations to join us in making a positive impact. Whether you're a local business, school club, or environmental organization, we invite you to partner with us for our cleanups. Be recognized as a partner and co-host a cleanup with us! If your group is looking to accumulate community service hours, participating in our cleanups is a fulfilling way to make a positive impact while earning those valuable hours. Consider sponsoring us by providing cleanup materials, snacks/food, water, or making a donation to support our mission.
Transforming Waste Into Resources
As avid advocates for recycling and repurposing, we are open and eager to partner with more businesses, groups, and artists passionate about recycling and repurposing materials.
Initiatives
Protecting our coasts. Connecting our communities. Inspiring action.
Coastal Cleanups
At the core of Costa Clean Project are our coastal cleanups. These hands-on efforts not only keep our waterways clean, but also allow us to engage directly with the communities we serve. Each location reveals different patterns and sources of litter, helping us better understand local needs and shape effective education and prevention strategies. To date, our cleanups have removed over 1,200 pounds of trash from Florida’s waterways and coastal areas.
Spanish Resources
We strive to make environmental education accessible for Spanish-speaking communities. Our materials include guides, tips, and posters that can be printed and shared to spread awareness and encourage responsible waste disposal. All of our resources are written by native Spanish speakers to ensure the language feels natural and culturally authentic, making each message more relatable and impactful.
Connecting Communities
Costa Clean Project partners with organizations across the country to share resources, ideas, and best practices. By connecting communities, we strengthen environmental efforts, inspire collaboration, and amplify the impact of local initiatives beyond our state.
Local Government Collaboration
We aim to work with local governments to implement solutions and systems that make it easier for residents and visitors to keep our coasts clean. These efforts include adding more trash and recycling receptacles in areas where disposal is inconvenient, improving signage, and supporting policies that reduce litter at the source.
News
Oct. 1st, 2025
Marine Park, Brooklyn, NYCosta Clean Project’s first out-of-state cleanup took place at Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY- a location chosen to help us study how infrastructure and accessibility impact litter in both natural and recreational areas. This pilot cleanup allowed us to test our framework for future interstate projects, recovering 40 pounds of trash while observing how thoughtful design, signage, and communication can influence public environmental behavior.
Oct. 1st, 2025
Marine Park, Brooklyn, NY
For Costa Clean Project’s first cleanup outside Florida, we chose Marine Park in Brooklyn, New York- a site that uniquely combines recreational areas with protected marshland. This location offered an ideal opportunity to study how infrastructure and accessibility influence litter accumulation in both natural and urban spaces. Our goal for this trip was to establish a framework for future out-of-state cleanups, gathering insights on how local waste systems, signage, and public habits vary by region.During our cleanup, we recovered around 40 pounds of trash- primarily food wrappers and beverage bottles and observed that much of the debris in the salt marsh likely washed or blew in from surrounding areas, rather than originating within the park itself. In contrast, the parking lot and recreational zones had heavier litter concentrations, often near areas with limited or poorly placed trash cans. These observations reinforced the importance of thoughtful infrastructure design- ensuring waste receptacles follow the natural flow of visitors to encourage proper disposal.We also took note of how multilingual “No Littering” signage reflected the area’s diversity, an approach that aligns with our own mission to make environmental awareness accessible to all communities. While this visit primarily focused on observation and data collection, we also identified several potential collaborators for future initiatives. The experience not only expanded our understanding of urban park systems but also strengthened our approach to planning cleanups that support both people and the places they love.
