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07.05.13

Surfrider Removes 2,372 Pounds of Trash from San Diego Beaches During Morning After Mess

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE 07/05/13

Contact: Haley Haggerstone
Chapter Coordinator, Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter
E-Mail: haley@surfridersd.org
http://surfridersd.org/

Surfrider Removes 2,372 Pounds of Trash from San Diego Beaches During Morning After Mess

SAN DIEGO – Over 450 volunteers arrived at four popular beaches this morning to assist in the annual post-Fourth of July Morning After Mess cleanup series, coordinated by the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego County Chapter. By midday, Surfrider volunteers had recovered 2,372 pounds of trash and 195 pounds of recycling, which otherwise would have been washed into the sea.

Surfrider volunteers lead cleanup efforts in collaboration with San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love a Clean San Diego from 9 to 11a.m. at the Ocean Beach Pier, Belmont Park in Mission Beach, Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and the South Harbor Jetty in Oceanside. Sites were chosen because of the high concentration of beachgoers and notorious reputations for post-Fourth of July trash. This year’s event was sponsored by radio station 102.1FM KPRi and healthy snack company Clif Bar.

Chapter Coordinator Haley Jain Haggerstone was pleased with the turnout and the amount of litter collected.  “It’s no wonder so many people choose to celebrate Independence Day on our beaches here in San Diego, but more visitors means more trash, which threatens our oceans, waves and beaches.  We want to remind everyone to stay classy, not trashy and help keep our beaches cleanup…it’s kind of a big deal.”

Few holidays generate more trash on San Diego County beaches than the Fourth of July. Sadly, much of this litter is made up of plastic, which exacerbates an already critical pollution problem devastating marine life in the world’s oceans. This year’s Morning After Mess recovered 764 plastic bags, 1,163 pieces of styrofoam and 12,685 cigarette butts.

The Surfrider Foundation works hard to prevent pollution from becoming part of the ‘Morning After Mess.’ Through successful campaigns like Rise Above Plastics and Hold Onto Your Butt, the organization uses education, outreach and advocacy to cut down on single-use plastics and cigarette butts before they reach beaches.

For more information on Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter, visit http://surfridersd.org/ or contact Chapter Coordinator, Haley Haggerstone at haley@surfridersd.org or (619) 929-5350.

2013 Morning After Mess Totals

During the 2013 Morning After Mess cleanup series, 469 volunteers removed 2,372 lbs of trash and 195 lbs of recycling from our beaches and surrounding areas.  The trash collected included 12,685 cigarette butts, 764 plastic bags and 1,163 pieces of styrofoam.

Ocean Beach Pier
168 volunteers
2,395 cigarette butts
407 plastic bags
131 styrofoam pieces
1,802 lbs trash
32 lbs recycling
Most unusual item(s): BBQ, marshmallows and marshmallow guns

Belmont Park
190 volunteers
8,911 cigarette butts
298 plastic bags
703 styrofoam pieces
389 lbs of trash
125 lbs of recycling
Most unusual items: fake mustache, glow sticks, pipe, landline telephone base, TV (x2), golf tees

Crystal Pier
57 volunteers
109 lbs trash

Oceanside Harbor
54 volunteers
1,379 cigarette butts
59 plastic bags
329 styrofoam pieces
72 lbs trash
38 lbs recycling