California's largest annual volunteer event returns Saturday, Sept. 20, with more than 45,000 participants expected to remove trash from beaches and waterways at over 700 sites statewide during the 41st Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.
The event, organized by the California Coastal Commission, runs from 9 a.m. to noon and includes participation from more than 50 California state parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways. Cleanup sites span coastal regions and inland waterways, including locations in the Sierra region.
New this year, the cleanup will feature the world's largest scavenger hunt with special "trashure" items hidden at cleanup sites across the state. Volunteers who find these items can redeem them for valuable prizes.
California's event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy. Last year, more than 47,000 volunteers removed over 400,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from waterways, beaches and lakes. Additionally, 40 boating facilities participated with 1,391 volunteers collecting 9,745 pounds of debris on land and from 95 kayaks, canoes and dinghies.
The cleanup provides educational experiences about environmental damage caused by trash, particularly single-use disposable plastics. According to past cleanup data, 75 percent of debris removed is plastic, which never completely biodegrades and can harm wildlife, leach toxins into the environment and enter the food chain.
Plastic debris can kill wildlife and introduce harmful substances into the food chain, affecting California's wildlife, economy and human health.
Volunteers can find cleanup locations using an interactive map provided by the California Coastal Commission. The commission encourages participants to check the website for updates and share experiences on social media using #coastalcleanupday.
The California Coastal Commission maintains Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram accounts for statewide updates. The organization also provides information on making participation more environmentally friendly by reusing items from home.
Interactive map of cleanup locations: [Interactive map link would be included here based on the original text]
Edited by SMDP Staff