The Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is this weekend!

This Saturday, September 19th, thousands of volunteers will be out, cleaning the beaches up and down the California coast. They’ll be picking up things like tires, plastic bags, cans, bottles and other things that litter our coast.

Coastal Cleanup Day

What is Coastal Cleanup Day?

“Every year, on the third Saturday in September, people join together at sites all over California to take part in the State’s largest volunteer event, California Coastal Cleanup Day. In 2014, nearly 67,000 volunteers removed more than 1,190,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from California’s beaches, lakes, and waterways. Families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups, service clubs, and individuals come together to celebrate and share their appreciation of California’s fabulous coast and waterways. The event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by the Ocean Conservancy, which is the largest volunteer event on the planet”*

Why is Coastal Cleanup Day important?

Many think that the fishing and shipping industries are to blame for all the trash. Not true!

Only about 20% of the the items are from the ocean, like…

  • Cargo Ships
  • Commercial Fishing Boats
  • Cruise Ships

80% of the trash is from land, like…

  • Trash from beach visitors, pedestrians and motorists
  • Industrial discharges
  • Garbage management

How does it get from land to ocean? Trash Travels!

  • Sewers
  • Storm drains
  • Inland waterways
  • or blown by the wind

Beach cleanups are the best line of defense to prevent trash from causing harm to our oceans, wildlife and beach visitors.

Want to find a cleanup near you? There are over 100 events happening in the Los Angeles area. Find events in your area at California Coastal Commission.

*Source: California Coastal Commission