Our Seas Our Future Dunedin Coastal Clean Up co-ordinator Noel Jhinku said about 50 people picked up rubbish in the dunes near John Ocean Wilson Dr for the annual event.
The charitable trust’s annual event was part of sea week, which began on Saturday with the theme of "healthy seas".
The event "keeps our beaches looking good and stops rubbish getting in the ocean".
The recyclable rubbish collected filled three 240-litre wheelie bins with glass bottles, cardboard and plastic and a 120-litre bin with cans.
About 360-litre of non-recyclable rubbish collected included parts of couches and cars.
Anne Spears, of Dunedin, collected rubbish with her partner Renee Gordon and their children James (6) and Ella (3).
The clean up helped protect a "precious resource" by stopping some rubbish entering the ocean.
Her children were keen to help.
"They are doing really, really well and understand why they are doing it."
Cassidy McCosh (17), of Dunedin, said she was picking up rubbish with her cousins Avana and Trinity Martika.
The Kavanagh College pupil said she had recently moved to Dunedin from Queensland.
"I haven’t lived here long but I want to give back to the community," she said.
