Latest update:28 January 2026 at 08:38 IST

Beach cleaning machines are mechanical systems designed to remove waste such as plastic, debris and seaweed from sandy areas.

The clip features a beach cleaning machine equipped with rotating drums. (Image source: X)

A video from Mumbai, showing a beach clean-up at one of the city’s most popular spots, has sparked an online debate about civic behaviour. The clip shows Juhu beach being cleaned by a machine and garbage removed.

While the images impressed many, they also raised questions about why such a large-scale cleanup effort was needed in the first place.

Beach cleaning machine at Juhu Beach in Mumbai

The video begins with a man introducing the cleaning process and asking: “How is Juhu Beach cleaned?” The clip shows a beach cleaning machine equipped with rotating drums that sift the sand to collect the waste below the surface.

“Every day this tractor is driven, and any rubbish under the sand is sifted out and collected in a bin at the back,” he says, explaining his job.

The caption accompanying the video says: “What’s stopping the authorities from putting these machines to clean India’s beaches daily? Here’s one example from Mumbai’s Juhu beach.”

Watch the clip here

Civic sense takes center stage online

While the machine attracted attention, the larger online conversation focused on public responsibility. Many users pointed out that such equipment should ideally not be required if people followed basic civic sense and disposed of waste responsibly.

One user commented: “Why don’t people leave their trash behind? Is it really that hard to bring a spare bag to put the trash in and bring it back with you to dispose of?”

Another wrote: “What prevents Indians in general from treating the entire beach as a garbage dump? Educate people, cleanliness is a societal problem, from individuals to the government. In the Western world there are no major cleaning campaigns. Citizens and people keep it clean. It starts with you.”

“What’s to stop everyone from throwing garbage in the trash? This machine is good but why can’t people learn civic sense,” another person commented.

“The first priority should be to educate the public about civic sense and impose penalties on violators,” one person wrote while another individual asked, “What’s stopping people from not littering?”

“Why should anyone litter in the first place. We should start there,” read another comment.

Are these machines being used elsewhere in India?

The original post suggested limited use for these devices, but several users have chimed in to correct that claim. “Chennai has been operating for over a decade,” one commented, while another added: “Chennai has recently purchased these machines for the beaches and has even outsourced beach maintenance to a private company.”

The discussion went further when one user asked chatbot Grok to clarify the matter. “Beach cleaning machines like the one in the video are being used in India, including Juhu Beach in Mumbai. BMC deploys them regularly – often in the morning and evening – to handle 150 tons of garbage per day. Challenges include high costs, maintenance, and constant dumping. Efforts are continuing to expand into new purchases,” Grok answered.

What exactly are beach cleaning machines?

Beach cleaning machines are mechanical systems designed to remove waste such as plastic, debris and seaweed from sandy areas. In India, machines from manufacturers like Barber, Gamzen and Pamtec are commonly used at popular tourist beaches.

These machines operate using raking, screening or hybrid mechanisms, and are often tractor-driven over large distances, while smaller models are used in confined areas. These machines are currently deployed in locations including Juhu Beach in Mumbai, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Mahabalipuram.

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