The Ocean Conservancy and the California Coastal Commission partners with volunteer organizations, such as I Love A Clean San Diego to create the largest, international cleanup day. I Love A Clean San Diego leads the efforts for this day in San Diego County for the 39th year in a row. Data collected from this event feeds into the world’s largest database on marine debris. Join our efforts this year to be apart of this global event!
This year, our countywide Coastal Cleanup Day will have around 100 + locations for volunteers to choose from, inland and coastal. Each location is hosted by a site captain (a specially trained volunteer) and they will be in charge of managing the volunteers on site, properly disposing of the trash and reporting back totals.
Click the registration link below to see our main page for more details and the map of locations to choose from. Sites are still being finalized and will not be uploaded on to the map on the CleanupDay.org webpage until registration opens on September 1.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Think Blue San Diego, for supporting this event!
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2021:
San Diego County’s Largest Environmental Cleanup Returns on September 18
Free online volunteer registration opens September 1, 2021 at CleanupDay.org. Volunteer groups expected to grow significantly from 2020. New Coastal Cleanup Day T-Shirt is available on event website.
International Coastal Cleanup Day returns to San Diego County for its 37th edition on Saturday, September 18, 2021. About 80 percent of all marine debris originates inland, so people of all ages and from all points in the region are encouraged to participate in one of the world’s largest environmental preservation efforts. Volunteers can cleanup at any point during the day. Learn more at the official Coastal Cleanup Day San Diego website CleanupDay.org.
The countywide event is a major part of International Coastal Cleanup, which includes many U.S. states, territories, and over 90 countries. San Diego County volunteers are joining nearly one million volunteers all over the world in the removal of pollution from our connected ecosystems.
“Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean – which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. If no action is taken, this is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050. Estimates suggest that plastic packaging represents the major share of this leakage. The best research currently available estimates that there are over 150 million tonnes of plastics in the ocean today. In a business-as-usual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain 1 tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish (by weight).”World Economic Forum Report
Produced by I Love A Clean San Diego for the region, and in cooperation with the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Conservancy, over 269,000 volunteers countywide have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since Coastal Cleanup Day’s inception in 1985. Despite the effects of the pandemic in 2020, San Diego County stood out. The region’s effort accounted for 1 percent of international litter totals, nearly six percent of the national totals and 20 percent of California’s results.
This year, Coastal Cleanup Day is making a return to group volunteering and data collection at litter hot spots across the county. If volunteers would like to find a litter hotspot in the county to do their cleanup, they can check the hotspot map on CleanupDay.org when registration opens Sept. 1.
Keeping with the theme protecting the coast starts at your front door, organizers are still offering a close to home option to allow more volunteers the opportunity to cleanup streets, parks, canyons and beaches within their own communities.
“No matter where you live in San Diego County, we all live in one of the region’s 11 watersheds, which need our help to protect the inland environment, creeks, bays and ultimately the ocean,” said Len Hering, executive director at I Love A Clean San Diego. “We’re happy to be making a significant step toward getting back together in groups to show our love for the region we call home.”
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) will be celebrating its 20th year participating in Coastal Cleanup Day, making it the longest serving corporate team in the San Diego region, according to I Love A Clean San Diego. SDG&E encourages all volunteers to be community scientists and record their data during and after their cleanup so the results of local efforts are included in the global totals.
“Coastal Cleanup Day is an event our employees look forward to each year, and we will be out at four locations this year,” said Scott Crider, senior vice president of customer services and external affairs at SDG&E. “Heading into our 20th year of volunteering for the event, we are proud to have stopped over 110,000 pounds of trash from going into our waterways.”
Be a community scientist and report cleanup data online.
This year we are recording the Thank Yous volunteers receive from passersby while working on their project.
All volunteers must register at CleanupDay.org to officially participate and have their cleanup totals officially counted in the international effort.
Prior to event day, registered volunteers will receive a link to a simple cleanup report form to record their cleanup data, which can be accessed on mobile device or computer.
I Love A Clean San Diego has created a Volunteer Impact Map. This map visualizes all locations and cleanup totals around San Diego County in real time as volunteers submit data.
Adding an appreciation metric, volunteers will report the number of “thank yous” they receive from passersby while working on their cleanup project.
“It is critical volunteers register first and then review and submit their totals on our easy online cleanup report form,” said Lauren Short, the event’s program manager. “This data gives us a snapshot of the weights and types of pollution collected so we can share those accomplishments internationally.”
To help expand the countywide experience, volunteers are encouraged to contribute to the virtual cleanup’s story through Facebook and Instagram with images and video to show themselves in action as they beautify their community. #ILoveACleanSD @ILoveACleanSD #ProtectYourHappyPlace #CCD2021
Top 10 Items Collected Around the World in 2020
Plastic is the problem: All items listed below are example of single-use plastic.
1. Food Wrappers (candy, chips, etc.) 4,771,602
2. Cigarette Butts 4,211,962
3. Plastic Beverage Bottles 1,885,833
4. Plastic Bottle Caps 1,500,523
5. Straws, Stirrers 942,992
6. Plastic Cups, Plates 754,969
7. Plastic Grocery Bags 740,290
8. Plastic Take Out/Away Containers 678,312
9. Other Plastic Bags 611,100
10. Plastic Lids 605,778
Source: OceanConservancy.org
Supporting partners of Coastal Cleanup Day San Diego County
Think Blue, County of San Diego and its Watershed Protection Program, Project Clean Water, COX Communications, SDG&E, Wells Fargo, Coca-Cola Foundation, News 8, Bank of America, Northrop Grumman, Illumina, Sony, City of Imperial Beach, City of Carlsbad, City of La Mesa, City of Poway, City of Chula Vista and San Diego Regional Airport Authority.
About Coastal Cleanup Day San Diego County
I Love A Clean San Diego has been the official organizer of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County since it was founded in 1985. The event is a major part of International Coastal Cleanup Day and includes many U.S. states and territories, and over 90 countries. Each year the event attracts nearly one million volunteers globally and about 6,000 throughout San Diego County who prevent ocean pollution from our connected ecosystems. International Coastal Cleanup was founded by the Ocean Conservancy and is coordinated in California by the California Coastal Commission.
About I Love A Clean San Diego
Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. 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.
Protecting the coast begins at your front door. Free online registration opens on September 1.
The 36th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is going virtual on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in San Diego County. Register to join the county’s Official Coastal Cleanup Day coordinators, I Love A Clean San Diego, and be a part of the global cleanup effort by removing polluting litter and debris from your community throughout the day on September 26th. Volunteers of all ages are invited to grab buckets and work gloves (or whatever you can round up and repurpose from around the house – we have ideas for you!) and walk your block with your household to stay close to home and protect the health of our community and our environment. Whether you’re coastal or inland, it all makes a huge impact on the health of our waterways and oceans – protecting the coast starts at your front door.
Become a citizen scientist
An important part of this event is collecting data on the types of litter that volunteers clean up; we look to you to be citizen scientists and report back on your litter findings! This data helps give us a snapshot of what is impacting our region year to year. A link to a form will be sent to all registrants to help us gather that data. Your cleanup and findings will be shared on our Volunteer Impact Map to track cleanup totals, all day long, countywide!
Need help with supplies?
For those volunteers who do not have cleanup supplies or internet access to submit their data, Supply and Data Hubs will be stationed throughout the county, hosted by our Community Champions, where volunteers can pick up bags, gloves, and data cards and pencils to keep track of litter data, and return completed data cards. Registration is requiredtoreceive these materials.
Registration opens Tuesday, September 1st at CleanupDay.org
Officially sign up on September 1, 2020 and then get ready to clean up your neighborhood on September 26. Registered volunteers will receive important safety and virtual event resources and information to have a successful cleanup. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Jackie Blumenthal, to register by phone if you do not have internet access: (619) 787-2604. Throughout the month of September, I Love A Clean San Diego will be sharing educational videos, zero waste tips and tricks, waste and recycling guides, and messages from our partners to prepare you and get you pumped for the big day. Learn more about patches, community service verification, contests, and more at CleanupDay.org!
Our 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21st from 9am-12pm! At last year’s event, 6,800 volunteers removed over 138,000 pounds of litter and debris from 106 sites throughout San Diego! This incredible impact was made possible by volunteers like you at the Packing Party last August, who assembled the supplies for each of those 106 sites in just four days.
In preparation for this year’s cleanup, we are looking for volunteers for our Packing Party to assist in assembling boxes of supplies to make this 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a huge success. Volunteers will report to our office in Liberty Station at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92106.
Tasks include counting and bundling supplies, packing boxes with specific quantities of items, double checking the packed boxes to ensure all of the supplies are there, and helping bring the packed boxes back to our office in the building. Some heavy lifting may be needed, but is not required. Volunteers will sit, stand, bend, and walk. Volunteers aged 14 and up are preferred, as attention to detail and counting are a crucial part of this assembly.
Whether you sign up for a full day or just a few hours, we would love your help! We will offer service forms for those in need, and this opportunity is available for court-ordered hours. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping, please sign up by emailing Carly Keen with the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer at ckeen@cleansd.org or (619) 704-2774.
Our 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21st from 9am-12pm! At last year’s event, 6,800 volunteers removed over 138,000 pounds of litter and debris from 106 sites throughout San Diego! This incredible impact was made possible by volunteers like you at the Packing Party last August, who assembled the supplies for each of those 106 sites in just four days.
In preparation for this year’s cleanup, we are looking for volunteers for our Packing Party to assist in assembling boxes of supplies to make this 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a huge success. Volunteers will report to our office in Liberty Station at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92106.
Tasks include counting and bundling supplies, packing boxes with specific quantities of items, double checking the packed boxes to ensure all of the supplies are there, and helping bring the packed boxes back to our office in the building. Some heavy lifting may be needed, but is not required. Volunteers will sit, stand, bend, and walk. Volunteers aged 14 and up are preferred, as attention to detail and counting are a crucial part of this assembly.
Whether you sign up for a full day or just a few hours, we would love your help! We will offer service forms for those in need, and this opportunity is available for court-ordered hours. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping, please sign up by emailing Carly Keen with the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer at ckeen@cleansd.org or (619) 704-2774.
Our 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21st from 9am-12pm! At last year’s event, 6,800 volunteers removed over 138,000 pounds of litter and debris from 106 sites throughout San Diego! This incredible impact was made possible by volunteers like you at the Packing Party last August, who assembled the supplies for each of those 106 sites in just four days.
In preparation for this year’s cleanup, we are looking for volunteers for our Packing Party to assist in assembling boxes of supplies to make this 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a huge success. Volunteers will report to our office in Liberty Station at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92106.
Tasks include counting and bundling supplies, packing boxes with specific quantities of items, double checking the packed boxes to ensure all of the supplies are there, and helping bring the packed boxes back to our office in the building. Some heavy lifting may be needed, but is not required. Volunteers will sit, stand, bend, and walk. Volunteers aged 14 and up are preferred, as attention to detail and counting are a crucial part of this assembly.
Whether you sign up for a full day or just a few hours, we would love your help! We will offer service forms for those in need, and this opportunity is available for court-ordered hours. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping, please sign up by emailing Carly Keen with the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer at ckeen@cleansd.org or (619) 704-2774.
Our 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21st from 9am-12pm! At last year’s event, 6,800 volunteers removed over 138,000 pounds of litter and debris from 106 sites throughout San Diego! This incredible impact was made possible by volunteers like you at the Packing Party last August, who assembled the supplies for each of those 106 sites in just four days.
In preparation for this year’s cleanup, we are looking for volunteers for our Packing Party to assist in assembling boxes of supplies to make this 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a huge success. Volunteers will report to our office in Liberty Station at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92106.
Tasks include counting and bundling supplies, packing boxes with specific quantities of items, double checking the packed boxes to ensure all of the supplies are there, and helping bring the packed boxes back to our office in the building. Some heavy lifting may be needed, but is not required. Volunteers will sit, stand, bend, and walk. Volunteers aged 14 and up are preferred, as attention to detail and counting are a crucial part of this assembly.
Whether you sign up for a full day or just a few hours, we would love your help! We will offer service forms for those in need, and this opportunity is available for court-ordered hours. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping, please sign up by emailing Carly Keen with the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer at ckeen@cleansd.org or (619) 704-2774.
Our 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21st from 9am-12pm! At last year’s event, 6,800 volunteers removed over 138,000 pounds of litter and debris from 106 sites throughout San Diego! This incredible impact was made possible by volunteers like you at the Packing Party last August, who assembled the supplies for each of those 106 sites in just four days.
In preparation for this year’s cleanup, we are looking for volunteers for our Packing Party to assist in assembling boxes of supplies to make this 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a huge success. Volunteers will report to our office in Liberty Station at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92106.
Tasks include counting and bundling supplies, packing boxes with specific quantities of items, double checking the packed boxes to ensure all of the supplies are there, and helping bring the packed boxes back to our office in the building. Some heavy lifting may be needed, but is not required. Volunteers will sit, stand, bend, and walk. Volunteers aged 14 and up are preferred, as attention to detail and counting are a crucial part of this assembly.
Whether you sign up for a full day or just a few hours, we would love your help! We will offer service forms for those in need, and this opportunity is available for court-ordered hours. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping, please sign up by emailing Carly Keen with the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer at ckeen@cleansd.org or (619) 704-2774.
San Diego Gas & Electric has been delivering San Diegans their power for almost 150 years. On top of their work providing around 45% clean energy to homes and businesses in this region – compared to an average of 8% nationwide – SDG&E supports many local nonprofits organizations that are working to improve the environment. This year, SDG&E and the San Diego Padres are Going to Bat for San Diego, and teaming up to support I Love A Clean San Diego and celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day.
ILACSD is proud to be part of the 2018 Going to Bat for San Diego Starting Lineup!
As a special thank you to volunteers that Go to Bat for San Diego, SDG&E and the Padres are recognizing Coastal Cleanup Day participants with a Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Padres game on Monday, September 17. Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers receive a promo code to purchase discounted tickets and be recognized for their accomplishments in keeping San Diego clean.
The 34th annual Coastal Cleanup Day will bring thousands of volunteers together on September 15th to beautify more than 100 beaches, parks, and other outdoor spaces throughout the region. Over the past 17 years, SDG&E has helped support I Love A Clean San Diego’s Coastal Cleanup Day efforts with the participation of thousands of employee volunteers! We are pleased to highlight two SDG&E heavy hitters who have stepped up to the plate to serve as site captains for Coastal Cleanup Day throughout the years.
Crystal Yousef
Crystal and her sidekick, Tipsie, at Coastal Cleanup Day 2013.
Crystal has been an SDG&E employee for 15 years and a Coastal Cleanup Day site captain for close to 10 years. She can always be counted on to go wherever there is a need, and Coastal Cleanup Day has led her on expeditions to Encanto, Poway, Golden Hill, and Rancho Bernardo, among other places.
In her day job, Crystal works at SDG&E’s Environmental Lab, which does environmental sampling and test analyses. The Lab is certified to test for more than 500 chemical compounds, ensuring that SDG&E facilities are operating safely.
In Crystal’s decade of service at Coastal Cleanup Day, she says her favorite part of the annual volunteer event is seeing kids’ enthusiasm when they find a strange piece of trash. Whether it’s a shoe, a stuffed animal, or even a bathroom scale, kids often burst with excitement recounting where and how they found it, and in some instances, even make up stories for what they think the item is. It’s like trash show-and-tell.
Crystal also notes that she feels a sense of pride each year when she arrives at Coastal Cleanup Day to a sea of Team SDG&E volunteers outfitted in team t-shirts, which for many years were the two-toned tie-dye in the photo to the left. SDG&E and I Love A Clean San Diego are lucky to have folks like Crystal committed to ensuring a safe and successful cleanup for volunteers of all ages! This year, you can find Crystal helping out at the South Shores cleanup site in Mission Bay with Team SDG&E.
Hilary Haskell
Hilary participating in the 2016 City Heights Facelift with Team SDG&E.
Hilary has been an environmental enthusiast from a young age. In fact, in high school she conducted regular beach cleanups, and in college she interned with another environmental nonprofit, Orange County Coastkeeper. Fun fact: during Hilary’s internship, she helped to plan Kids’ Ocean Day in Orange County, aerial art and all! That’s the sister event to ILACSD’s San Diego Kids’ Ocean Day that occurs every spring.
Hilary joined SDG&E a little over two years ago and jumped right in with Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year, she led the San Dieguito Lagoon site for SDG&E, and this year you’ll find her at the Paradise Creek site in National City. Aside from having a good attitude and strong leadership qualities, Hilary brings another attribute to her role as site captain…she knows a lot about the environment! At SDG&E, she makes sure projects like the placing of a new power pole, or even the removal of one, don’t result in a detrimental environmental impact. She’s also one of the company’s leading sustainability advisors, helping to track SDG&E’s environmental performance in key areas.
While Hilary hasn’t been a part of Team SDG&E for very long, we anticipate that her involvement in Coastal Cleanup Day will continue for many years to come!
ILACSD is grateful for SDG&E’s longtime partnership and the hands-on role team members take on to make sure we knock Coastal Cleanup Day out of the park!
The 34th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is September 15, 2018!
Join us on Saturday, September 15th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM as we clean up and beautify over 100 sites throughout San Diego County! At last year’s efforts, with a turnout of 6,686 volunteers at 105 coastal and inland cleanup sites, we successfully removed 128,168 pounds of litter from San Diego County. Our volunteers channeled their appreciation for San Diego’s environment into action to protect it. Join us this year and be a part of this international event!
Registration opens mid-August! For more information, head over to CleanupDay.org
