7,000 LA Volunteers Remove 20,000 Pounds of Beach Trash

When 7,000 people show up with gloves and garbage bags, something beautiful happens to a coastline.

Last year's Coastal Cleanup Day proved exactly that. Volunteers across Los Angeles County collected more than 20,000 pounds of trash and recycling from beaches, rivers, parks, and even underwater dive sites. This Saturday, September 19th, thousands more will continue the tradition for its 37th year.

Heal the Bay coordinates the massive effort in partnership with the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Conservancy. Over three decades, more than 300,000 volunteers have removed over 2 million pounds of debris from LA County's environment.

"Those numbers represent more than just data points," says Jess Du Mont, Heal the Bay's Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator. "They represent care in action, local pride and the belief that small acts, multiplied across communities, can create lasting change."

The cleanup spans more than 70 locations throughout the county. Volunteers don't just hit the famous beaches. They wade into rivers, scour hiking trails, clean up neighborhoods, and even dive underwater to retrieve trash from ocean floors.

The most common polluters tell a clear story. Plastic pieces top the list by far, with volunteers collecting more than 14,000 pieces last year alone. Foam, metal lids and caps, aluminum cans, and medical waste round out the top five.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond a cleaner shoreline. Every piece of trash collected becomes data that helps shape environmental policy and advocacy.

Heal the Bay shares volunteer findings with organizations worldwide to advance research and develop better solutions to waterway pollution. The information helps identify pollution trends, strengthen environmental education programs, and inform lawmakers about what's actually ending up in California's waters.

"The impact doesn't end when the cleanup does," the 2026 campaign explains. "Your cleanup becomes data. Your data becomes action. Your action helps protect our coast."

California Coastal Commission member Eben Schwartz captured the spirit perfectly after last year's event. "Every Coastal Cleanup Day is a reminder of what's possible when Californians show up for the places they love," he said. "Small efforts, multiplied statewide, create waves of impact."

Registration is open now for anyone wanting to join this year's cleanup, with full details on local sites and preparation available at healthebay.org/coastalcleanupday.