37,000 Volunteers Clean Santa Barbara Coast This Saturday

This Saturday morning, thousands of people across Santa Barbara County will grab gloves and bags to join the world's largest volunteer cleanup event.

Coastal Cleanup Day happens September 19 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 37 locations throughout the county. Volunteers can choose from beaches, parks, creeks, and rivers to help protect the ocean before litter ever reaches it.

The numbers tell an incredible story. Since 1985, more than 1.6 million California volunteers have removed 26 million pounds of trash from coastlines and waterways. Last year in Santa Barbara County alone, people picked up over 1.8 tons of litter, most of it plastic.

"It looks like this might be the biggest event yet," says Veronica Lee, the event's coordinator at Explore Ecology. The enthusiasm from the community matches the dedication of the 37 volunteer Site Captains leading each location.

This year brings exciting expansion to inland sites. Volunteers can now clean at Lake Los Carneros, Santa Ynez River, Devereux Creek, and several local parks. These inland cleanups matter just as much as beach cleanups because they stop trash before it flows downstream to the ocean.

Roman Baratiak from the Santa Barbara Audubon Society is hosting the Lake Los Carneros site. "All are welcome to make new friends and perhaps learn a thing or two about our resident feathered friends," he says, encouraging people to bike there for maximum fun.

The Ripple Effect: What happens in Santa Barbara County contributes to something much bigger. California alone collects 15% of all trash gathered during the international event. Every piece of litter removed is one less threat to sea turtles, dolphins, and the countless marine creatures that call the coast home.

Joining is simple. Pick a site at ExploreEcology.org/ccd, show up at 9:00 AM, sign a waiver, and start collecting. Cleanup supplies are provided, though bringing reusable gloves helps reduce waste. Everyone who registers enters a drawing for prizes from local businesses.

The event brings together Explore Ecology, Santa Barbara County, the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Solvang, plus dozens of nonprofits and businesses. The California Coastal Commission organizes statewide, while Ocean Conservancy coordinates globally.

When the three hours wrap up at noon, volunteers will sleep well knowing they helped protect the places they love.