SAN DIEGO — On July 5, nearly 200 volunteers joined I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) for Morning After Mess, a post-Fourth of July community cleanup held at Fiesta Island in partnership with Surfrider San Diego.
Volunteers removed 526 pounds of litter from the environment, preventing trash from entering waterways and harming coastal ecosystems.
“Both locals and tourists love to celebrate holidays at our beautiful beaches and bays,” said Kristin Banks, Community Engagement Director at I Love A Clean San Diego. “Joining community cleanups after events that produce a lot of waste is a powerful opportunity to give back to our environment and steward it for future generations to enjoy.”
The most commonly found items are the size of a dime, including cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, and bottle caps. Other items found today included balloons, metal scraps, and stadium chairs.
The kickoff site featured a Sand Cloud booth, live entertainment from iHeartRadio, and a SeaWorld San Diego Park pass giveaway.
Clean Beach Coalition
Morning After Mess is an extension of ILACSD’s Clean Beach Coalition. The initiative places 100 extra trash and recycling bins across Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Mission Bay during high-traffic summer holidays.
Over the past decade, Clean Beach Coalition has prevented over 3.5 million pounds of trash from reaching waterways.
This year’s Clean Beach Coalition is possible through the support of Niagara Cares, Keep America Beautiful, Pacific Beach Shore Club, Sand Cloud, SeaWorld San Diego, Wheelhouse Credit Union, and Cox Communications.
Why It Matters
The Fourth of July is the busiest and dirtiest beach day of the year. After the holiday crowds head home, single-use plastics, empty cans, and cigarette butts are left in the sand and water.
Removing litter at its source stops it from polluting the ocean. Cleanups protect marine wildlife, improve water quality, and preserve San Diego’s natural beauty.
Get involved year-round
The Fourth of July 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 social media for tips to protect San Diego’s natural environment.
