This September 21 will mark the 28th annual Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest volunteer event in California. Organized by the California Coastal Commission in 1985, close to 2,500 people came out for California’s first-ever Coastal Cleanup Day.
By Mallory Johnson
Published: September, 2013
This September 21 will mark the 28th annual Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest volunteer event in California. Organized by the California Coastal Commission in 1985, close to 2,500 people came out for California’s first-ever Coastal Cleanup Day. The number of volunteers for this yearly event has been steadily growing, and in 2012, over 65,000 volunteers helped pick up trash. Nearly 770,000 pounds of trash and recyclables were removed from California’s beaches, lakes and watersheds in one day, marking a huge success for Coastal Cleanup Day.
Most of the debris found in the ocean comes from inland sources, and 90 percent of the marine debris found is plastic, all of which is harmful to the ocean and the animals inhabiting it. Often, animals end up ingesting plastic after having mistaken it for food, which causes the animals to become severely malnourished. Animals can also be harshly affected by debris in the ocean by becoming entangled in netting and other plastic items.
According to the California Coastal Commission’s website, the most common items picked up from 1989-2012 were cigarette butts, which are especially harmful to the environment due to their plastic filters and other toxins. Other commonly found items include paper and plastic bags, plastic cups and plates, and glass and plastic beverage bottles.
If you’re interested in getting involved this year, come out for Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 21, to help keep trash off the streets and out of the ocean. Aquarium of the Bay will be at Aquatic Park, where it will not only be cleaning up the beach, but the water as well. Kayakers and paddle boarders will clean trash from the surface of the water, while divers will clean debris from underneath the waves. To find out more about how you can participate, visit www.aquariumofthebay.org.
Top ten items picked up from 1989-2012 according to California Coastal Commission:
• Cigarette Butts – 6,489,979
• Bags (paper and plastic) – 1,801,430
• Food wrappers/containers
– 1,743,634
• Caps/lids – 1,435,417
• Cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons
– 941,094
• Straws/stirrers – 684,445
• Glass Beverage Bottles – 564,135
• Plastic Beverage Bottles – 428,286
• Beverage Cans – 421,646
• Building Materials – 308,618
Mallory Johnson is the Public Relations Coordinator for Aquarium of the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and inspiring the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed.
