Beach Cleanups
About the Program
The Surfrider Foundation's San Diego County volunteer network and Beach Cleanup Coordinator conduct beach cleanups throughout the county, from Imperial Beach to Oceanside. Our Beach Cleanup program provides a fun and easy way to volunteer and engage with our mission to protect our ocean, waves and beaches, for all people. Volunteers of all ages, community groups, tourists, clubs, local and corporate businesses and elected officials around the country contribute to the success of this program and are essential to keep our beaches and coastline clean.
We hold up to six public beach cleanups countywide every month.
- 1st Saturday of each month in Ocean Beach and Oceanside
- 3rd Saturday of each month in Imperial Beach and Encinitas
- 4th Saturday of each month in Carlsbad
- 4th Saturday of each month in Pacific Beach or Seaport Village
Beach cleanups are dependent on our volunteer site captain availability and are subject to change.
Join us at the beach, and help us leave it better.
Looking to sponsor a cleanup or organize a private cleanup for your group?
Looking to join a cleanup, bring your group, or learn about how to get involved?
Our Impact
Beach cleanups are the last line of defense against pollution, but also the first. Beach cleanups engage communities and raise awareness about the sources and impacts of pollution. This education can lead to behavior changes that reduce waste at its source. As the last line of defense, cleanups directly remove trash and debris that have already made their way into the environment. This prevents further harm to marine life and coastal ecosystems, and reduces hazards for beachgoers.
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Read the 2024 San Diego County Beach Cleanup Report.
Surfrider Foundation San Diego County and San Diego Coastkeeper partner each year to host volunteer-powered beach and park cleanups across San Diego County to address the issue of trash along our coast and in our inland waterways.
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Photo: Ryan Young
Do I need to sign up for beach cleanup or can I just show up?
If you want to join us at any of our beach cleanups, you will need to register online ahead of time! You can find all our upcoming cleanups and registrations here. There is a waiver attached to the online registration form that you will be required to consent to online during the registration process. Once you submit your registration, you will find all the important details, like our specific meeting location, supplies, attire, etc., under the Pro-Tip section and in the confirmation email you will receive. Please take a minute to read through it!
Surfrider San Diego’s beach cleanups are waste-free events. What does this mean?
This means that we don’t allow any drinks, food, or items that are bottled, wrapped, or in containers made of single-use plastic or EPS foam (a.k.a styrofoam)! So, please, if you would like to bring a drink or snack to the cleanup, make sure to do so in reusable containers!
Does Surfrider San Diego provide water during cleanups?
No, we typically do not provide water refill stations at our cleanups. If you’d like to have some, please make sure to bring some in a reusable container!
The exact location for the cleanup does not show up on the registration page. Where can I find it?
Once you submit your registration for our cleanup, you will find the location and other important details in the confirmation page, under the Pro-Tip section. You will also find it in the confirmation email you will receive shortly after registering. Please take a minute to read through it!
How long are Surfrider San Diego’s beach cleanups?
Almost all our cleanups are two hours long.
Can I get community service hours for solo cleanups?
Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm service hours for solo beach cleanups. Due to the nature of solo cleanups, we cannot verify whether or not a cleanup took place. However, community service hours are available to those who attend regularly scheduled public cleanups. To receive these hours, you must register for the event and check in on-site. Hours will be confirmed after the event ends.
How do I register for a public beach cleanup?
If you want to join us at any of our public beach cleanups, you will need to register online ahead of time! You can find all our upcoming cleanups and registrations here. There is a waiver attached to the online registration form that you will be required to consent to online during the registration process. Once you submit your registration, you will find all the important details, like our specific meeting location, supplies, attire, etc., under the Pro-Tip section and in the confirmation email you will receive. Please take a minute to read through it!
What supplies do I need to bring with me?
Surfrider San Diego will provide volunteers with grabbers, gloves, and reusable bags to collect trash. However, sometimes we run out of these supplies, especially at events with high turnout! So, if you have any of these supplies, please bring them with you!
Can kids participate?
Yes! Children are more than welcome to join any of our cleanups! All participants under the age of 18 need to provide a parent/guardian’s contact information on their registration. The parent/guardian will be emailed the volunteer’s waiver (check spam folder!), which they will have to consent to in order to complete the minor’s registration. Additionally, those under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Are beach cleanups eligible for service hours?
Yes! All our public beach cleanups are eligible for service hours. Those looking to get a service hour verification letter at the end of the cleanup must check-in at the beginning of the cleanup by scanning the check-in QR code they will find at the Surfrider tent, and/or by requesting a paper copy from our site team at the end of the cleanup.
Can my group sign up as a team or does each person need to sign up individually?
We ask every member of your team to sign up individually. If you would like to keep track of your team’s registration, please make sure they sign up using their work/organization email, and the Surfrider San Diego Beach Cleanup Coordinator will be able to provide this information upon request.
My team is pretty big! Is there a maximum number of participants that can sign up as part of a group?
Some of our beach cleanup sites have a maximum number of participants who can attend on any given date. These are Tamarack & South Ponto (100), Imperial Beach (200), and Pacific Beach (250). We don’t have a max cap for groups as long as we have enough open slots for the date you want to attend! All other cleanup sites do not have a maximum cap, so feel free to share the signup to those with everyone!
Can we reserve spots for a beach cleanup?
We do not reserve spots for a beach cleanup.
Can my organization sponsor a public cleanup?
Yes! Surfrider San Diego allows sponsorships of our public Beach Cleanups. This type of collaboration requires approval from our national office and the San Diego Chapter’s Executive Committee to ensure the sponsor is aligned with our organization’s mission, and a minimum 45 day-lead time. For more details on how to get involved with our public-facing sponsored Beach Cleanups, contact our Beach Cleanup Coordinator.
Can media attend and cover public beach cleanups?
Yes, media are welcome to attend and cover our public beach cleanups. We encourage coverage to help raise awareness about environmental issues and promote community involvement. However, we request that all media outlets coordinate with our communications team in advance to ensure smooth and respectful coverage.
Are media allowed at private or invitation-only beach cleanups?
Media access to private or invitation-only cleanups is limited and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. These events may involve sensitive partnerships or specific privacy concerns. Media representatives must seek approval from the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County's Chapter Manager before attending.
How do I get approval for media coverage at a beach cleanup?
To request approval, please contact info@surfridersd.org at least 2 weeks prior to the event. Include details about your media outlet, the intended coverage, and any specific interview or filming requests. We will review your request and provide further instructions or guidelines as needed.
What are the guidelines for interviewing participants at beach cleanups?
Media are encouraged to interview participants, but it’s important to respect their privacy. Please ask for consent before conducting interviews or filming individuals. If the participant is a minor, consent must be obtained from a parent or guardian. Surfrider Foundation San Diego County reserves the right to decline or limit interviews to protect the well-being and comfort of our volunteers.
Can Surfrider Foundation San Diego County provide spokespersons or experts for interviews?
Yes, we can arrange for a spokesperson or environmental expert to speak with your media outlet. Please request this in advance when seeking approval for coverage. Our team will coordinate to ensure you have the appropriate contact available for your story.
How should media credit Surfrider Foundation San Diego County in their coverage?
We ask that all media outlets include a credit to Surfrider Foundation San Diego County in their coverage. Please mention our name and, where appropriate, include a link to our website or social media channels. This helps spread the word about our mission and encourages further community engagement.
What should I do if I have additional questions or need further clarification?
For any further questions or specific requests, please reach out to our communications team at info@surfridersd.org. We are here to help ensure that your coverage is accurate, respectful, and supportive of our environmental goals.
When posting or publishing content from the cleanup, please credit Surfrider Foundation San Diego County and tag our official social media accounts where applicable.
Important: Use of any Surfrider logo requires prior approval. Logo requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance to info@surfridersd.org. No use of any Surfrider logo is allowed without written approval.
Promotion of Private Cleanups: Private cleanups are intended exclusively for your group and will not be promoted by Surfrider San Diego. If attendance exceeds your sponsorship tier, an additional fee of $500 per 25 participants will apply.