International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is the world's largest annual preservation and protection events and volunteer efforts for our ocean, waves and beaches. Surfrider Foundation chapters engage and motivate their communities to take action at local beach cleanups. The cumulative result is not only a cleaner and healthier coastline but also a raised consciousness for accessible actions people can integrate into their lives to promote healthy beaches on a daily basis.
Below we've laid out some of the best opportunities to locally participate in this global event. We hope you can join a cleanup!
It is a global movement that encompasses 6 million volunteers in 90 countries and across the United States.
Pacific Beach
Our chapter has partnered with Odell Brewing to host a beach & street sweep cleanup at Maverick's Beach Cleanup on Garnet. At this site, volunteers will have the option of walking to the beach (a 5 min walk) or hitting the streets around the beach, which tend to get pretty trashed. As we'll be hosting this cleanup, you can register right on this page!
When: Saturday, 9/18 from 9am-11am
Where: Maverick's Beach Club, 860 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Bonus: Post-cleanup Happy Hour for all 21+ volunteers
pre-register for Pb
[wpforms id="32536"]
Countywide with I Love a Clean San Diego
I Love A Clean San Diego has been the official organizer of San Diego County's Cleanup Day for 37 years, and for the last 2 years have operated the event in a remote/hybrid format. You choose your location, you choose your time of day, and they even have a litter hotspot map to help the process.
If you'd rather organize a solo cleanup or a small group cleanup with family and friends, head on over to the San Diego Coastal Cleanup Day site managed by our friends at I Love A Clean San Diego.
Tijuana River Valley
If you're familiar with our ongoing Clean Border Water Now campaign, then you know that the Tijuana River Valley (TRV) suffers from extreme levels of pollution. If there is one coastal area that needs to be cleanup up more than any other, it's the TRV.
We are supporting and promoting two separate TRV cleanup efforts this Saturday. Volunteers are welcome to participate in either, however to ensure your safety, these locations both require boots, long pants and long sleeve shirts, gloves, masks (N95 or similar), and a change of clothes for after the cleanup. We will have gloves on hand. Parts of the TRV are contaminated so out of an abundance of caution, neither sites will allow any volunteers to participate who do not follow these safety guidelines.
Smuggler's Gulch with Wildcoast and Think Blue
Join Wildcoast and Think Blue San Diego for a cleanup at Smuggler's Gulch in the TRV. This cleanup has been permitted and sanctioned by the city, and will be mainly hosted by Wildcoast with some logistical support from our chapter.
If you'd like to participate, please register right here using our form. You can also show up day-of if you're over 18, however any minors without a parent or legal guardian onsite will need to have a parent fill out our waiver beforehand.
When: Saturday, 9/18 from 9am-11am
Where: Smuggler's Gulch, 2130 Monument Road, San Diego, CA 92154
pre-register for Smuggler's Gulch
[wpforms id="32512"]
Goat Canyon w/ Spring Valley Cleanup Crew
The Spring Valley Cleanup Crew has conducted several grassroots cleanups at this location, the site of the infamous trash boom pictured below. At this time of year the area is dry and more accessible, but still highly polluted. They are looking for volunteer support and donations of cleanup equipment. Please direct any specific inquiries to springvalleycleanupcrew@gmail.com or DM them via their Instagram page.
Scroll through the accompanying images for cleanup details. For parking, we suggest google mapping 1250 Monument Road as technically that's where the road opens up to a dirt field with parking.
Previous
Next