Breaking Down Coastal Cleanup 2013!

Today’s blog post comes from our new marketing intern, Bri Lobato. Bri is currently studying environmental science and loves cheese enchiladas and English imageBulldogs. We’re thrilled to have her helping out at ILACSD!

As of September 21st, San Diego is free of 75 tons of debris thanks to each and every one of our 7,500 volunteers this year at I Love A Clean San Diego’s Coastal Cleanup Day! Families, friends, students, sponsors, locals, visitors, and even some loyal pets took some time out of their Saturday morning to help keep San Diego beautiful, and everyone involved made this event more successful than ever. Across a record breaking 102 sites in San Diego County, volunteers of all ages came out to give back to the city they love by picking up litter, participating in service projects, and storm drain stenciling.

Volunteers cleaning a creek bed near Gompers Park
Volunteers cleaning up Chollas Creek near Gompers Park

Kickoff started at 9am at the Gompers Park site where 250+ volunteers heard from Supervisor Greg Cox, Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Myrtle Cole, as well as I Love A Clean San Diego’s very own Executive Director, Pauline Martinson, to get them fired up before going out into the neighborhood and local creek to hunt for waste. News crews were there to capture their influential words about why events like Coastal Cleanup Day are important to both the environment and the community. Volunteers at this site were able to choose among creek cleanup, mulching, invasive plant removal, painting a mural made of tire scraps, trail building and stenciling storm drains, so everyone was able to take part in their own way. No matter the task, every volunteer across the County was given a free Chipotle coupon as a reward for their efforts…and who doesn’t love Chipotle!?  When 75 tons of trash is involved, you bet there were some unusual and interesting items we heard about:  bowling balls, a rooster, a steering wheel, and even a sweet female pit bull puppy were recovered! (She has been rescued and is on the road to recovery).  There was also a “Bling Your Bucket” contest, where kids decorated their own reusable litter hauling bucket.

We found bowling balls! One of ILACSD's staff managed to shot put these guys into the dumpster
We found bowling balls! Some of ILACSD’s staff managed to shot put these guys into the dumpster
"Bling Your Bucket" contest entrants, each doing their part to "make this world happier"
“Bling Your Bucket” contest entrants, each doing their part to “make this world happier”

Shout out to our site captains who were instrumental in making the event run smoothly and effectively. BIG thanks to our sponsors San Diego Gas & Electric, the Country of San Diego, Think Blue San Diego and MANY more for making Coastal Cleanup Day an event that so much of the community could participate in and enjoy! A very special big thank you goes to all of the volunteers who made Coastal Cleanup Day worthwhile, and who made a difference by taking part in the largest volunteer event that San Diego County has to offer. It wouldn’t be possible without you guys! We will see you all next year for CCD 2014!!

Show Some Love for Our Coast (and Canyons): Adopt A Beach!

Yesterday, local San Diego company The Control Group rounded up its employees for a cleanup.  But this wasn’t just any cleanup- the Control Group was out at their very own “adopted” beach, Pacific Beach.  So how can you or your company get in on this cool program, encourage employee engagement, help the environment, and even get free recognition signage?

Adopt-A-Beach gives people of all ages the opportunity to learn about and actively participate in conserving coastal resources. ILACSD’s most popular volunteer program, AAB involves over 10,000 volunteers annually!

The Control Group team, out enjoying their beach
The Control Group team, out enjoying their beach

The Adopt-A-Beach program is not just about trash. It’s about the need for clean oceans, shorelines, and waterways. It is about Californians acting together to create lasting solutions to marine pollution. Our oceans and waterways have been a dumping ground for man-made debris. The harmful effects of marine debris are severe and include:

  • Negative economic and aesthetic impacts
  • Harm and risk to human health and safety
  • Injury and death to animals through entanglement and ingestion
  • Habitat destruction

I Love A Clean San Diego has expanded the Adopt-A-Beach program to include inland areas, in order to highlight the fact that almost 80% of marine debris originates from inland sources. By adopting a canyon or park inland, your group can prevent trash from making its way to waterways and eventually the ocean.

Revised-AAB-Bumper-Sticker-Beaches

What beach would you chose to adopt? Visit the program website at www.AdoptSD.org for more information and sign up!

You can also help support this free program by providing a donation to ILACSD.

Labor Day Weekend Rounds out Clean Beach Coalition Summer Campaign!

The San Diego Clean Beach Coalition, a project of I Love A Clean San Diego, FreePB.org, and the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department has been busy this summer working to keep our most popular beaches free of trash!

Remember when this used to be a common sight on local beaches?
Remember when this used to be a common sight on local beaches?

The Coalition’s efforts have results in the placement of more than 200 temporary trash and recycling bins, which were purchased to handle the influx of trash and recyclables that accompany the large crowds over summer holiday weekends.  This much needed infrastructure prevents litter, overflowing trash cans, and lack of recycling opportunities available at local beaches.

This year, thanks to our generous sponsors, we were able to expand the program into a third holiday weekend, and placed the bins at Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, and Pacific Beach over Memorial Day weekend.  These bins were placed conveniently on the sand, giving thousands of beachgoers the opportunity to make the responsible choice when disposing of trash at the beach.  A total of more than 23,000 pounds of trash and 2,000 pounds of recycling were properly disposed of in these bins over Memorial Day weekend, as well as an additional 250,920 pounds over Fourth of July weekend.

Look for these bins on local beaches over Labor Day weekend!

The last hurrah of the 2013 summer season is Labor Day weekend, and the Clean Beach Coalition is poised to finish the summer on a high note. I Love A Clean San Diego, FreePB.org and the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department will again disseminate more than 50 trash and recycle bins along the beach. Large pollution prevention banners will also be placed at main lifeguard stations as well as sponsoring restaurants & bars in Pacific Beach.

In addition to infrastructure, the Clean Beach Coalition aimed to prevent litter by creating and disseminating educational messaging reminding San Diegans about litter prevention techniques to incorporate into their weekend and their daily lives. These efforts prevented tons of trash from polluting our beaches and threatening ocean health, but also helped to educate thousands of beachgoers!

The Clean Beach Coalition reminds you to enjoy the scene, but keep it clean. Dispose of all trash and recycling in the temporary receptacles on the sand!

These signs will provide a helpful reminder to beachgoers this Labor Day weekend!
These signs will provide a helpful reminder to beachgoers this Labor Day weekend!

Wanna Be Like Mike? Get the Goods on Coastal Cleanup Day Site Captain, Michael Page!

Ever wondered about the secret life and thoughts of our site captains?  Well, we had the opportunity to interview one of our MVSCs (Most Valuable Site Captains), Michael Page, about why he loves Coastal Cleanup Day, why he thinks YOU should get involved, and some weird things he has found during cleanups.  (Interview has been edited).Mpage1

Why do you think Coastal Cleanup Day is important for our local environment?

Coastal Cleanup Day raises public awareness of the interconnectedness of our creeks and oceans.  People take a clean environment for granted; when you look around there are areas that aren’t clean and would benefit from community attention.

Why did you decide to become a CCD Site Captain?

I’m an environmental planner for AECOM and have a friend and co-worker who did canyon cleanups- he encouraged me to do one with ILACSD.  I volunteered to be site captain for my second time volunteering.  I like to volunteer at a different site each time

What is important or unique about your cleanup site?

This year, my cleanup site is the San Elijo Lagoon. This is a part of the coastline that is important for wildlife habitat, recreation and clean water.

What is your favorite part of Coastal Cleanup Day?

All the great people you meet! We bring a big group from our office who doesn’t usually work together. This is a great opportunity to work with people from other groups and neighborhoods and make connections with other like-minded individuals.

What is the most unique item you’ve found at a cleanup?

An unopened bottle of champagne in Sorrento Valley.  (PS- Michael mentioned that no cleanup member partook; the bottle was recycled. However, we do encourage staying hydrated (with water!) during this cleanups).

Cheers to Coastal Cleanup Day!
Cheers to Coastal Cleanup Day!

Thanks Mike! We appreciate all your hard work and are excited to see you again for this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21! 

Want to join?  Sign up to volunteer! We have 90+ sites throughout San Diego County.  Volunteers also get cool giveaways like tote bags and free Chipotle’s!   

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