50,000 Californians to Clean Coasts and Waterways Sept. 19

More than 50,000 volunteers will gather across California on September 19 to protect the state's waterways from trash before winter rains wash debris into the ocean.

The 42nd annual California Coastal Cleanup Day runs from 9am to noon at hundreds of sites statewide. What started as a beach initiative now includes all 58 California counties, recognizing that inland streams and rivers eventually flow to the coast.

The timing matters this year. Organizers are encouraging early participation ahead of El Niño rains that could sweep plastic and other debris from inland areas straight into the ocean.

Since launching in 1985, nearly 1.9 million volunteers have removed more than 13,770 tons of trash through this program. Cigarette filters, food wrappers, and plastic straws top the list of items collected each year.

Local communities are stepping up across the state. Gilroy will host cleanup efforts in the Uvas area, while Morgan Hill volunteers will focus on West Little Llagas Creek. The Coastal Commission continues adding sites to its map as the event approaches.

The Ripple Effect

Every piece of trash pulled from a creek today prevents ocean pollution tomorrow. The cleanup demonstrates how individual actions in communities far from the coast directly protect marine life and water quality for millions of Californians.

The event also marks the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act, the landmark law that protects the state's 1,100 miles of coastline. Kate Huckelbridge, executive director of the Coastal Commission, sees the cleanup as a living celebration of that legacy.

"As we celebrate the 50th year of the Coastal Act, Coastal Cleanup Day serves as an important reminder that we all need to show up to protect our coast," Huckelbridge said.

Registration is open now at the Coastal Commission website, where volunteers can find their nearest cleanup site and sign up to join thousands of Californians choosing action over apathy.