The 2019 California Coastal Cleanup Day is Ventura County’s premier coastal cleanup activity of the year. It is anticipated that the event will bring thousands of residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations together to collect trash and debris from Ventura County’s beaches and inland areas to keep it out of our oceans and waterways. Held on Saturday, September 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00.
Last year, over 3,000 dedicated volunteers from Ventura County collected close to 13,000 pounds of trash and recyclables. Statewide over 71,000 volunteers joined together to collect over 800,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the California shorelines and inland waterways.
Bring Your Own Bag or Bucket, Gloves, and Water Bottle! Volunteers are again encouraged to attend their local cleanup site and bring their own bucket or used grocery bag, gloves, and a reusable water bottle to lessen the amount of trash created during the event.
The California Coastal Commission and the Ventura County Coalition for Coastal and Inland Waterways will once again coordinate this regional cleanup event made possible by our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers.
Debris found on beaches and adjacent waterways throughout California include products such as cigarette filters, food wrappers, beverage bottles and cans, grocery and trash bags, and fishing line, nets and gear. Once these products enter local waterways they can travel thousands of miles on ocean currents, posing a threat to ocean ecosystems and wildlife along the way.
Thousands of marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in debris or from ingesting it. Marine debris can impact critical habitat, smothering sea grasses or dislodging or injuring corals. Debris can also pose human health and safety risks. Syringes, broken glass, and other hazardous items pose obvious dangers to barefooted beach goers. Grocery and trash bags, fishing line, nets, rope, and other debris can wrap around boat propellers and clog seawater intakes, causing costly damage and becoming a safety hazard.
Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers not only help improve our local beaches, they also improve their own understanding of nature and the positive impact people can have on the environment when we work together.
To find a site near you go to vccoastcleanup.org
For more information, please contact Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator Kelly Hahs at (805) 658-4375 or [email protected], or Steering Committee member Kay Allen at (805) 583-6424 or [email protected].
