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Annual Beach Cleanup Calls For Volunteers
A volunteer for the Orange County Coast Keeper picks up debris in Huntington Beach
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Matthew Sylvester Orange County Coast Keeper
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Orange County Coast Keeper
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Topline:
Over 30,000 volunteers will flood beaches and waterways across the state to collect debris and trash. It's the largest annual volunteer event in California.
Why it matters: Debris like cigarettes and plastics degrade water quality, and enter the food chain. This could make some fish unsafe to eat. The coastal garbage is also harmful to wildlife.
The backstory: September 23rd marks the 39th year of the beach clean up effort. It includes not only beaches, but also inland rivers and lakes.
Matthew Sylvester is the communications director for the Orange County Coast Keeper. He says in 2021, the Army-sized volunteer force picked up 350,000 pounds of trash.
What's next: California has a statewide goal of zero waste along its waterways by 2030. It plans to implement river boons and cleaning machines in order to reach that goal.
Want to participate?: It's not too late to sign up. Visit the California Coastal Commission website to find a site.
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