PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A local TikTok star is celebrating the new year by keeping our beaches clean.

Since Caulin Donaldson began this journey he's been using the TikTok platform to raise awareness about conserving the environment. 

"I think the biggest habit is not realizing that what you take out you also take in; so leaving the beach better than you found it," said Donaldson.

Through this work the environmentalist is looking to change habits.  

His animated videos and infectious attitude has drawn more than 1.7 million followers to his TikTok page named 'TrashCaulin'. 

"I got a lot of support from my friends at first to keep going and making these videos. I found tik tok and it blew up," he said. 

His videos were so popular they also caught the eye of visit St. Pete/Clearwater and Keep Pinellas Beautiful which teamed up with Caulin for a beach clean up campaign early last year.

The 26 year old's passion for the environment was ignited during his first job. 

"I used to work at St. Pete Beach so having families tell me this is their favorite place in the world, they love coming here but than seeing the contradiction when they leave. They left all of the trash in the sand. It never really made sense to me." 

His TikTok videos are a daily reminder of what's left behind. 

He's picked up all kinds of trash from food wrappers, empty bottles and cigarette butts.

Among the trash he's also found some treasures in which he's done his best to return those valuables to their owner. 

He also launched a toy box in which beach toys can be recycled.

What started as a small goal for fo Caulin has now blossomed into a movement that has engaged his generation to get involved locally and via social media. 

"If you have the passion and you have the care for it that is where you start. Along the way I've met incredible that I have surrounded myself with that have educated me so I can further educate my audience and it's been a wild ride," he added.