The City of San Diego is increasing street sweeping in Mission Beach over the summer months to best accommodate the increased trash and debris from large crowds of beachgoers and prevent pollution from reaching the ocean.

From June through September, Mission Beach alleys will be swept every Wednesday – as opposed to every other week – and include new routes. The City’s Stormwater Department will be using its smaller, electric-powered sweepers to reach nearly every alley in both North and South Mission Beach.

“This is all about improving the quality of life in Mission Beach during the summer months as millions visit from inside and outside of San Diego,” said Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, who represents Mission Beach. “With more people comes more trash, so increased street sweeping efforts are crucial to removing pollution from our streets and reducing fly infestations.”

Street sweeping helps improve the quality of life for San Diegans by keeping the streets clean of trash and debris and protecting water quality. The enhanced sweeping in Mission Beach also has the added benefits of reducing the nuisance of insects in the neighborhood during the summer and helping improve vector control efforts throughout the community.

“The summer brings people from all over the world to San Diego’s famous beaches, so we’re taking proactive steps to tackle the increased levels of trash from the summer surge and stop that pollution from reaching our beaches and the ocean,” said Bethany Bezak, interim director of the City’s Stormwater Department. “We’re also asking our fellow San Diegans and visitors to ‘Think Blue’ and do their part by picking up and disposing of trash properly. Working together, we can ensure clean water and clean beaches for all of us.”

Residents and visitors can help improve street sweeping efforts by parking in legal parking spaces, taking in trash cans immediately on trash collection days, and reporting illegal dumping and other problems promptly to the City’s Get It Done application.

Rainfall that enters storm drains is not treated, and that runoff collects pollutants from properties and streets and carries them into local waterways. Street sweeping helps remove both large and microscopic pollutants, such as brake dust from vehicles, before they reach a storm drain. Those particles can be extremely harmful to fish and other wildlife.

Visit the City’s interactive street sweeping map to find out more information about routes and schedules. To learn more about Think Blue San Diego and how to implement a Think Blue mindset, go to thinkblue.org.