Coordinators ask expected 10,000 participants to bring own reusable buckets, gloves, bottles
San Diego, Calif. –More than 6,000 volunteers have already registered for California Coastal Cleanup Day, which will happen on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. Part of the largest volunteer event in the state, Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego has more than 80 sites and will attract participants of all ages, who are expected to help clean up in excess of 150,000 pounds of trash in just one morning. Complete event information, cleanup site details and online registration are now available at www.cleanupday.org.
In an effort to reduce waste generated while removing litter from local beaches, bays, parks, canyons and open spaces, Coastal Cleanup Day coordinators request that volunteers bring their own reusable buckets, work gloves and water bottles. Coordinators will give reusable event tote bags to participants so they can continue to incorporate this Bring Your Own campaign every day.
Last year, approximately 10,200 volunteers scoured 168 miles of coastline and inland areas removing more than 174,000 pounds of trash—the equivalent in weight to three mature gray whales or 30 hummers. In 2009, the top five most common pieces of trash picked up by Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers included cigarettes, food containers, bottle caps and lids, plastic bags and straws. The most prevalent items found at inland cleanup sites include discarded tires and shopping carts.
The event is co-coordinated locally by San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love a Clean San Diego. The organizations use data cards and report to the Ocean Conservancy to record important information about the potential sources and common problematic types of marine debris. Without Coastal Cleanup Day, these items would continue to plague outdoor areas where families live and play, and spread to bays and beaches as they travel downstream. Volunteers help to stop this problem at its source and spread firsthand awareness about the connection between littering and pollution.
California Coastal Cleanup Day would not be possible without the generosity of event sponsors. Presenting sponsors include San Diego County Board of Supervisors through the support from Supervisor Greg Cox and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, and Think Blue – City of San Diego Storm Water Department. Other major sponsors include Bank of America, Ralphs, the Sempra Energy Foundation, Allied Waste Services and many others. Statewide support for the effort is provided by the California Coastal Commission. A complete list of San Diego County event sponsors can be found at www.cleanupday.org/sponsors.htm.
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CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP DAY is a volunteer event 26 years in the making, with more communities, cities and counties joining every year. Through a partnership with California Coastal Commission and Ocean Conservancy, volunteers track types of debris found to compile and learn the sources of marine debris worldwide. I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper co-coordinate this event in San Diego County. More details about each organization can be found online at www.cleansd.org and localhost/sdcoastkeeper
