Volunteers at Coastal Cleanup Day, 2025

Join OC Parks, Newport Bay Conservancy and fellow volunteers for Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay on Saturday, September 19. Spend the morning protecting local coastlines and wildlife, and help remove thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables that make their way into the bay.

Each year on the third Saturday in September, Coastal Cleanup Day mobilizes people worldwide to remove trash from beaches and waterways. In Orange County, various groups gather and volunteer their time cleaning up Upper Newport Bay, one of the largest estuaries in Southern California, as well as numerous other sites.

Volunteers at Coastal Cleanup Day, 2025

“One third of Orange County’s tourism economy is bolstered by our ocean economy. Coastal Cleanup Day in the Upper Newport Bay highlights the vital role we all play in protecting the environment and our natural resources,” said Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Keeping our beaches, waterways and bays clean preserves our local habitats, maintains their unique beauty, and supports a critical piece of our local economy.”

At least 1,000 volunteers are needed from 9 am to 12 pm to remove trash and invasive plant species. Volunteers will meet at various mini-cleanup sites around the 11-mile loop of the bay to help achieve the goal of removing 10,000 pounds of trash. The exact meeting locations will be shared prior to September 19.

Participants are encouraged to wear old clothes and closed-toe shoes (tall/rubber boots are best) and bring a refillable water bottle, gloves and a trash bag or bucket. All volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Coastal Cleanup Day

• Date: Saturday, September 19
• Time: 9 am to 12 pm
• Cost and Parking: Free
• Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
• Register: https://events.humanitix.com/cud2026
• Additional Event Partners: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, City of Newport Beach, Orange County Coastkeeper, Newport Aquatic Center and Inside the Outdoors.

Volunteers at Coastal Cleanup Day, 2025

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About OC Parks: OC Parks manages nearly 60,000 acres of parks, historical and coastal facilities and open space for the County of Orange as part of OC Community Resources. http://www.parks.oc.gov