Keeping our beaches clean is no easy task, but on Saturday, September 21, more than 60,000 volunteers are expected to participate in the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon.
Last year, more than 770,000 pounds of trash and recyclables were collected from the state’s beaches, lakes, and waterways. The Guinness Book of World Records hailed California Coastal Cleanup Day as the “largest garbage collection.” Since the program’s inception in 1985, over one million residents have removed more than 15 million pounds of debris from California’s shorelines and coasts
To participate in Coastal Cleanup Day, bring your own bucket, gloves and reusable water bottle (to make the event Zero Waste) to one of the cleanup sites. Wear closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and a hat. If you don’t have your own cleanup supplies, some will be available at each site.
Newport Beach has four sites participating this year:
–Balboa Beach: Meet at the Balboa Pier (Off Balboa Boulevard at Main and Ocean Front Streets). All ages welcome. Contact Team Captain Michelle Claud-Clemente at (949) 644-3036 or MClemente@newportbeachca.gov.
–Crystal Cove State Park: Meet at Pacific Coast Highway and Reef Point or Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Coast. Volunteer sign-in and meeting locations are Reef Point parking lot or Pelican Point parking lot. All ages welcome, no RSVP needed. Contact Team Captain Winter Bonnin at (949) 497-7647 or Winter.Bonnin@parks.ca.gov.
–Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, OC Parks: Meet at 2301 University Drive at the Interpretive Center. All ages welcome, but volunteers under 18 need adult supervision. Conform your attendance with Team Captains Patrick McCaffrey or Sue Stoffel at (949) 923-2275 or (949) 923-2290, or unbic@ocparks.com.
–Upper Newport Bay Wetland: Meet at Back Bay Science Center, 600 Shellmaker Rd near Jamboree and Back Bay Drive. Register in the parking lot before being assigned to a cleanup area. Parking is limited so carpools are advised. Minimum age for volunteers is 12. Those under 16 require adult supervision. Confirm attendance with Team Captain Joanne Park at (949) 640-9956 or joanne.park@wildlife.ca.gov.
For more information, visit CoastalCleanupDay.org or 800-COAST4U.
