Thousands of volunteers will pick up trash along Los Angeles County beaches and inland waterways later this month as part of the 26th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Between 9 am and noon Sept. 19, about 10,000 volunteers are expected to collect ocean-bound trash at more than 50 sites between Compton and Malibu.
Led by the Ocean Conservancy, almost 600,000 international participants are expected to participate in the yearly tradition the Guinness Book of World Records calls the biggest single-day volunteer event on the planet.
Statewide efforts are being organized by the California Coastal Commission.
Work in Los Angeles County is being led by the nonprofit Heal the Bay.
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit dedicated to grading beach water quality and engaging the community to help keep the coastline clean.
It conducts cleanups throughout the Southland and operates the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.
“Heal the Bay was founded on the belief that one person can make a world of difference,” Heal the Bay Beach Programs Manager Alys Arenas said. “It’s gratifying to see so many people come out each year to protect what they love.”
Coastal Cleanup Day participants in Los Angeles have collected more than a million pounds of trash — roughly the weight of a fully loaded Boeing 747, according to Heal the Bay.
Attendees also receive hands-on education about other ways they can help keep watersheds clean. Some cleanup sites are offering giveaways, entertainment and other special incentives.
For more information about the cleanups, including a map of all sites, visit www.healthebay.org/ccd. Volunteers are encouraged to bring buckets, reusable bags and gloves.
