Over 2,300 volunteers flocked to 36 simultaneous beach and waterway cleanup events for this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day OC on Saturday, September 19

On Saturday, September 19, more than 2,300 volunteers assembled across Orange County to clean up beaches, waterways, and parks, preventing more than 16,700 pounds of trash from reaching the ocean. These numbers are expected to grow as cleanup site captains from 36 simultaneous events continue to report their results to Orange County Coastkeeper (Coastkeeper).

Local organizations and agencies hosted cleanup sites throughout the county with support from Coastkeeper, the Orange County regional coordinator for California Coastal Cleanup Day. Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, this statewide event brings Californians together each year to clean creeks, rivers, lakes, beaches, and shorelines and help prevent marine debris from reaching the ocean. Coastal Cleanup Day is California’s largest annual volunteer effort.

Cleanup events give volunteers a direct way to make a difference in their own communities by removing trash before it can be carried through storm drains and waterways and into the ocean. Research shows that most marine debris comes from land-based pollution. With heavy El Niño rains expected soon, Coastal Cleanup Day provides an important opportunity to reduce pollution before winter storms can move litter from streets and neighborhoods into local waterways.

Celebrating 50 Years of the California Coastal Act

This year’s Coastal Cleanup Day carries special significance as California celebrates the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act. Passed in 1976, the landmark law established a framework for protecting California’s coastal resources and public access to the shore. The anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on five decades of coastal protection and the continued role that communities play in caring for California’s coastline.

“The Coastal Act has helped preserve California’s coastline for the past 50 years, and Coastal Cleanup Day is a great example of what coastal stewardship looks like at the community level,” said Matt Sylvester, Communications Director at Orange County Coastkeeper. “Every piece of trash removed today represents a small but meaningful act of care for our waterways and ocean. As we celebrate 50 years of the Coastal Act, we’re grateful for the thousands of people who continue to show up and take responsibility for the future of our coast.”

As the regional coordinator for Orange County, Coastkeeper helps distribute supplies, register volunteers, and promote cleanup sites throughout the region. Coastkeeper also hosted its own cleanup event at Huntington State Beach, where 385 volunteers removed 300 pounds of trash from the Huntington Beach coastline in just three hours. Coastkeeper’s cleanup featured partner nonprofit organizations, sustainable vendors, and a trash-themed scavenger hunt.

For a full list and map of Orange County’s Coastal Cleanup Day sites, visit coastkeeper.org/cleanup-day.

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ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER: Orange County Coastkeeper is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, which supports over 350 different independent programs across 47 countries. Founded in 1999, the mission of Coastkeeper is to protect swimmable, drinkable, fishable water and promote watershed resilience throughout our region. Coastkeeper is a nonprofit clean water organization that serves as a proactive steward of our fresh- and saltwater ecosystems. Coastkeeper addresses water issues impacting Riverside and San Bernardino counties through our Inland Empire Waterkeeper and Coachella Valley Waterkeeper programs. We work collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. We implement innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION: The California Coastal Commission is committed to protecting and enhancing California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations. It does so through careful planning and regulation of environmentally sustainable development, strong public participation, education and effective intergovernmental coordination. The Coastal Cleanup Day Program is part of its effort to raise public awareness of marine and coastal resources and promote coastal stewardship.