San Diego Coastkeeper

Volunteer Turnout Exceeded Goal for 22nd Annual Coastal Cleanup Day

SAN DIEGO, CA - An estimated 5,500 volunteers joined together at nearly 65 coastal and inland cleanup sites to help protect and restore the health of our waterways at the 22nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD), presented by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors through the support of Supervisor Greg Cox and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. With 75% of sites reporting, San Diego Coastkeeper (coastal sites coordinator) and I Love a Clean San Diego (inland sites coordinator) estimate that volunteers removed over 150,000 pounds of trash and 5,000 pounds of recyclables at CCD 2006. Some of the most unusual items found included a coin from the Netherlands, vampire teeth and a Mickey Mouse watch. Coordinators are pleased to have exceeded the goal of engaging 5,000 community volunteers to remove trash throughout San Diego County.

To kick off the event, more than 260 volunteers at CCD Central, Ocean Beach Pier, were welcomed by Marti Emerald from 10 News, San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox, and representatives from event sponsors and organizers.

“I am proud to sponsor this great event, which plays a vital role in restoring and preserving our renowned San Diego County beaches and inland waters,” stated Supervisor Slater-Price. “At the same time, Coastal Cleanup Day brings the community together to support and protect our marine environment, while raising awareness to ensure that we take responsibilities in our daily activities to keep trash and debris out of our precious waterways.”

CCD 2006 is presented by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors through the support of Supervisor Greg Cox and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. Coordinators are also pleased to have Albertsons/Savon Pharmacy as the countywide sponsor, 10 News and Sempra Energy’s Come Clean San Diego partnership on board as media sponsors, and KPRI as the radio sponsor. Additional sponsors include: the City of San Diego’s Think Blue Program, Digiteers, SeaWorld, Hornblower Cruise & Events, Birch Aquarium, Sony, San Diego County’s Department of Public Works, General Dynamics NASSCO, City of La Mesa, City of Chula Vista, Coastal Community Foundation, Dog Beach Dog Wash, Urban Corps of San Diego, Allied Waste, Escondido Disposal, Waste Management, EDCO, Einstein Brothers Bagels, Hike*Bike*Kayak, Motorola, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Henry’s Farmers Market Point Loma and JetBlue Airways.

First organized in 1985 by the California Coastal Commission, California Coastal Cleanup Day began with just 2,500 volunteers. Over the years, in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup, the cleanup has grown to become one of the world’s largest volunteer events. Over the years, more than 700,000 volunteers have picked up over 11 million pounds of trash.

The most common items found on area beaches are cigarette butts and plastics, both of which can be deadly to marine life. In fact, scientists estimate that debris kills tens of thousands of sea birds and marine mammals each year from entanglement or ingestion when it reaches the nation’s waters.

“Coastal Cleanup Day provides a great opportunity for every person to have a hands-on experience making a real difference in the health of our local waterways,” added Danielle Miller of San Diego Coastkeeper. “Besides being an eyesore and public health threat on local beaches, trash left on our beaches will ultimately get into the ocean and harm wildlife.”

Not all trash and debris in our oceans comes from beachgoers. The California Coastal Commission reports that up to 80% of marine debris that reaches our coastal areas comes from inland areas through storm drains and tributaries.

“While Coastal Cleanup Day originated on the coast, the fact that we coordinate almost 30 inland cleanups is a testament to the increasing awareness that the health of our coast depends on protecting our inland areas,” noted Sarah Leone of I Love a Clean San Diego.

Coastal Cleanup Day is a global educational experience that enlightens people of all ages about the importance of protecting our coastal and inland areas. All 50 states and over 90 countries participated in International Coastal Cleanup this year, making it the largest marine-related volunteer event in the world. In addition to collecting trash from the earth’s waterways, volunteers also collect data during the cleanup, providing important clues as to the nature and source of the trash in hopes of preventing future marine pollution.

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San Diego Coastkeeper: San Diego Coastkeeper protects the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. We balance community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem. Dedicated to the belief that we all have a right to clean water, Coastkeeper is the largest professional organization dedicated solely to the monitoring and protection of San Diego’s coastal areas and waterways.

I Love A Clean San Diego: Through outreach, community involvement and example, I Love A Clean San Diego leads and educates our community to actively conserve and enhance the environment. As one of San Diego County's oldest and largest environmental education non-profit organizations, ILACSD promotes awareness of environmental issues including resource conservation, waste reduction, recycling, community enhancement, and pollution prevention.