SAN DIEGO — This morning, nearly 3,000 San Diegans joined I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) at 91 cleanup sites for the 24th annual Creek to Bay, the county’s largest Earth Month cleanup.
Volunteers across the county joined forces to clean and restore San Diego’s beloved beaches, canyons, rivers, and parks. As of 2:00 p.m., with 91% of sites reporting totals, an estimated 51,622 pounds of litter and debris were removed from San Diego communities and diverted from polluting local waterways and the Pacific Ocean.
“We are grateful to every volunteer who showed up on a Saturday morning to turn their love for San Diego into action,” said Steve Morris, Executive Director at I Love A Clean San Diego. “Community participation is essential to keeping our favorite spots clean and beautiful.”
Final cleanup totals will be confirmed in the coming days.
Mayor Ron Morrison addressed volunteers gathered at the kickoff site at Las Palmas Park in National City. “Every little thing that we pick up is one more item that doesn’t end up in the whole system,” said Morrison. “It makes our neighborhoods look cleaner and is better for our environment and all the creatures we share it with.”
The kickoff site also featured educational booths, waste-sorting stations, and free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Cigarette butts, plastic bottle caps, and food wrappers are the most commonly found items. Odd items found today included a shopping cart, a door, and a Star Wars mask.
Approximately 80% of all marine debris begins inland. ILACSD founded Creek to Bay in 2002 to empower community members to stop pollution before it travels to our bays and ocean. Removing litter at its source protects wildlife, improves water quality, and preserves San Diego’s natural beauty.
Over the last 24 years, more than 95,000 volunteers have removed more than 3 million pounds of litter across San Diego County during Creek to Bay.
Creek to Bay is supported by community partners, including Think Blue San Diego, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, the County of San Diego, Project Clean Water, Cox Communications, SDGE, and Northrop Grumman.
Get involved year-round
Creek to Bay may be over, but the work continues. I Love A Clean San Diego hosts community cleanups, workshops, clothing swaps, and other volunteer opportunities throughout the year. San Diegans can sign up for upcoming events at CleanSD.org and follow @iloveacleansd on socials for tips to keep making a difference in their communities.
About I Love A Clean San Diego
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit that has supported residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops since 1954. As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego’s programs are an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action to empower everyone to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living. Our community is passion in action to maintain and improve the health of the home we love. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit cleansd.org or call (619) 291-0103.
