Tens of thousands of Californians will gather along beaches, shorelines, and inland waterways to pick up the trash that has accumulated over the past year. In 2019, more than 74,000 volunteers removed close to a million pounds of trash and recyclables from 55 counties across the state. This year will include a “Most Unusual Item Contest.” The annual cleanup event ranks as the biggest, single day volunteer event on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Coastal Cleanup is on the schedule for Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon in most locations.

Cleanups will take place at hundreds of sites on California beaches, bays, rivers, creeks, parks, roadsides, and highways. The Commission hosts an interactive map that provides exact locations and other site-specific information. The Commission is also encouraging volunteers to download the Clean Swell app and conduct self-guided cleanups throughout the month. For more details, go to: www.coastalcleanupday.org.

“The pandemic took a significant toll on all of us in so many ways,” said the Commission’s Executive Director Jack Ainsworth. “There were times when outdoor spaces became the only places many of us could safely go to refresh and reflect. While it’s been wonderful to see so many rediscover and enjoy our coast, some of those spaces paid the price for our inability to run organized cleanup events last year. This Coastal Cleanup Day will be an important opportunity for us all to take care of this precious resource.”

Visit www.coastalcleanupday.org or call (800) COAST-4U for more information.

California Coastal Cleanup Day event is presented by the California Coastal Commission with lead sponsorship from Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water by CG Roxane. Additional support comes from Oracle, the Whale Tail Specialty License Plate, and the Protect our Coast and Oceans Fund.

California Coastal Cleanup Day 2021 is made possible by the hard work of hundreds of local non-profits and government agencies that organize events throughout the state and tens of thousands of volunteers annually. The event is also supported by the California State Parks Foundation and Ocean Conservancy.

The 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.