California State Parks Invites Californians to Pitch In for Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 19
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Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
Volunteers remove trash at different locations throughout the state during last year’s Coastal Cleanup Day. Photos from the California Coastal Commission.
What you need to know:More than 50,000 participants will help remove trash from coastal beaches and waterways in California’s largest annual volunteer event at more than 700 sites across the state!
SACRAMENTO – Grab your friends, family and a pair of reusable gloves and make a difference during the 42nd annualCalifornia Coastal Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 19. This year, more than 60 California state parks along with the Division of Boating and Waterways will participate in the state’s largest annual volunteer event in coordination with the California Coastal Commission.
More than 50,000 volunteers are expected to turn out at more than 700 cleanup sites across all 58 counties, including participating California state parks. Whether you’re picking up trash along the coast, beside a river or at a nearby lake, every piece of litter you remove makes a difference.
- WHAT: Coastal Cleanup Day
- WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 19
- WHERE: Including state parks, the event will take place at more than 700 sites statewide. View this interactive map of cleanup locations.
- WHO: You, your family and friends. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.
“California’s coast and waterways belong to all of us, and Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way to give them a little love,” said California State Parks Deputy Director of Boating and Waterways Ramona Fernandez. “It’s also a fun way to get outside, connect with your community and make a difference, one piece of trash at a time.”
And this work matters. About 75% of the debris collected during Coastal Cleanup Day is plastic. Plastic can harm wildlife, introduce toxins into the environment and make its way into the food chain. Trash left far from the coast can also travel through creeks, rivers and storm drains before reaching the ocean.
Last year, nearly 40,000 volunteers removed more than 358,000 pounds of trash from California’s beaches and waterways. State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways also partnered with 44 boating facilities and groups, where more than 2,000 volunteers collected more than 14,000 pounds of trash and recyclables on land and from kayaks, canoes and dinghies.
Ready to help? Volunteers are encouraged to bring reusable gloves, buckets and refillable water bottles. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear, and check with your local cleanup site for registration details and information about supplies.
Follow statewide efforts on the California Coastal Commission’s Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram. Be ready to reuse many items you may have at home to participate in this year's unique event. Learn how to make your participation greener here. See you Sept. 19!
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.