Results for 38th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO COUNTY (Sept. 17, 2021) – This morning over 4,000 volunteers joined I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) for the 38th annual Coastal Cleanup Day. As of 3 p.m. and with most sites reporting totals, over 35,000 pounds of litter and debris was collected from sites across the region. Final cleanup totals to come in the following days.
“We are so grateful for the support of the San Diego community,” said the event’s director Ann Marie Sack. “It is incredible to witness San Diegans come together and be a last line of defense to prevent litter from reaching our ocean.”
Based on today’s estimated results, over 276,000 volunteers countywide have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since Coastal Cleanup Day’s inception in 1985.
Councilmember Joe LaCava presented a proclamation at the Ellen Scripps Browning Park in La Jolla celebrating 38 years of Coastal Cleanup Day. Many elected officials helped kick off Coastal Cleanup Day at a site within their district including Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, Supervisor Joel Anderson, Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, Councilmember Chris Cate, Councilmember Raul Campillo, Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, and Councilmember Joe LaCava.
“As San Diegans we know the value of protecting our coast and keeping our waters clean,” said Councilmember Joe LaCava. “I am grateful for the thousands of volunteers who came out today and donated their time in support of this vital effort.”
In addition to removing litter, volunteers will compile litter totals from their cleanup site to capture the impact in San Diego County and contribute to this year’s worldwide total.
I Love A Clean San Diego is hosting Creek to Bay, a countywide cleanup effort on Earth Day, on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
About Coastal Cleanup Day
I Love A Clean San Diego has been the official organizer of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County since it was founded in 1985. The event is a major part of International Coastal Cleanup Day and includes many U.S. states and territories, and over 90 countries. Each year the event attracts nearly one million volunteers globally and about 6,000 throughout San Diego County who prevent ocean pollution from our connected ecosystems. International Coastal Cleanup was founded by the Ocean Conservancy and is coordinated in California by the California Coastal Commission.
Supporting partners of Coastal Cleanup Day
Think Blue, County of San Diego and its Watershed Protection Program, San Diego Gas & Electric, Bank of America, Cox Communications, Northrop Grumman, The Bumble Bee Seafood Company, 22nd District Agricultural Association, Illumina, Project Clean Water, Sempra, Wells Fargo, Wheelhouse Credit Union, Austal USA, City of La Mesa, City of Imperial Beach, San Diego Regional Airport Authority, Sycuan, CBS News 8, Channel 93.3, Toyota Dealers of San Diego, California Coastal Commission, and Ocean Conservancy.
About I Love A Clean San Diego
Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego’s programs are an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action to empower everyone to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living. Our community is passion in action to maintain and improve the health of the home we love. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn