Over 4,000 registered volunteers of all ages at 106 sites took part in the region’s largest environmental cleanup during Earth Week.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY (April 20, 2024) – Today, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) estimates 4,000
registered volunteers will have removed over 80,000 pounds of litter and debris from streets, canyons,
parks, and shores in communities across San Diego County for the 22 nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup.
“We are thankful for all the volunteers and sponsors, from all corners of San Diego County, who
celebrated Earth Month with us at Creek to Bay this year” said Ann Marie Sack, Director of Community
Engagement at I Love A Clean San Diego. Results are still coming in from the 106 sites throughout San
Diego County and across the border in Mexico.
Volunteers included residents, corporate groups, and community organizations who turned their
appreciation for the region into action by cleaning up waste and completing restoration projects.
Volunteers helped restore the local environment by planting natives, mulching, weeding, painting park
structures, and removing invasive species and graffiti. Among the debris, there were several notable odd
items collected including half of a guitar, a hand-washing station, three lawn mowers, a bat mobile toy
car, and over 100 pounds of household hazardous waste.
San Diego Mayor, Todd Gloria, and 76 th District Assembymember, Chris Ward, kicked off the day at Linda
Vista Community Park in honor of Creek to Bay’s 22nd anniversary. Since its inception in 2002, Creek to
Bay has played a significant role in preserving San Diego’s environment. "It takes today's extra special
effort because sometimes our parks can get loved to death,” said Assemblymember Ward. “We have a
lot of utility here, families, and people who love to come out to these spaces, and sometimes things can
get left behind. We want to make sure that we are doing our part.”
About 80 percent of all marine debris begins inland, and all residents of San Diego County live in one of
11 watersheds, which all have their own habitats and lead to our bays and ocean. Litter enters our local
watersheds and flows out to the Pacific Ocean, becoming a harmful threat to the health of both marine
wildlife and people. Single-use plastics are among the most problematic products because they break
down into micro-plastics and can be ingested by animals and humans.
ILACSD invites volunteers to take waste reduction into their own hands this Earth Month.
Here are some helpful tips:
1. Visit WasteFreeSD.org to learn more about how to recycle effectively to reduce contaminated
materials from the blue bin. The free database includes a wealth of options on how to properly
dispose of or recycle unwanted items as well as donation and repair centers.
2. Say goodbye to single-use items and embrace reusable alternatives.
3. Ensure that all recyclable materials, such as plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard,
and paper products are placed in designated recycling bins.
The Creek to Bay Cleanup is one of two annual countywide cleanups hosted by I Love A Clean San Diego
that engages thousands of local families, community groups, and local businesses. The next major
cleanup event is International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday September 21, 2024. For more
information about upcoming events please visit Cleansd.org.
I Love A Clean San Diego is grateful for the support of the 22nd annual Creek to Bay Presenting and Gold Sponsors:
Think Blue San Diego, County of San Diego and its Watershed Protection Program, COX Communication,
Project Clean Water, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
About I Love A Clean San Diego County
Celebrating 70 years in 2024, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit
supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County. ILACSD was founded in 1954 as the San Diego
War Against Litter Committee (WALC), in the 1970s, “I Love A Clean San Diego” became the slogan for
the organization’s anti-litter campaign, and in 1980, it became the organization’s name. Over the last
seven decades, ILACSD has since evolved into the nonprofit it is today, providing programs that go far
beyond litter cleanups and serve as environmental catalysts. Our programs inspire and empower San
Diegans to be environmental and waste-free living leaders in their communities. For more information,
to volunteer, or to make a gift, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
