Every summer, millions of San Diegans and out-of-town visitors flock to local beaches, bays and parks to enjoy the pristine beaches and perfect weather. Often, permanent trash receptacles alone aren’t enough to handle the litter. For the eighth consecutive year, I Love a Clean San Diego, FreePB.org, the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department and public safety personnel and local businesses will collaborate for the eighth consecutive year to address the issue. The San Diego Clean Beach Coalition will place 75 temporary trash and recycling bins along San Diego’s most heavily-trafficked beaches of Mission Beach, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach on the Fourth of July, unveiling it at a kick-off event from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 2 at Fanuel Street Park, 4024 Fanuel St. in Pacific Beach. During the event, media will hear firsthand from law enforcement, elected officials and coalition members about plans for a safe and clean Fourth of July weekend. Since its inception in 2007, the coalition has collected 2.8 million pounds of trash that otherwise would have ended up in nearby waterways, bays and eventually the Pacific Ocean. Marine debris poses health threats to marine life and to beachgoers, surfers and paddlers. “For over 60 years, I Love a Clean San Diego has been an influential advocate for the local environment, empowering our community to take action,” said Pauline Martinson, the group’s executive director. “Our involvement with the Clean Beach Coalition is important, as we are able to bring together San Diegans who are inspired to keep the beauty of our beaches intact and free of litter.” The coalition has created a list of items for beachgoers to leave home this holiday weekend. They include Styrofoam coolers, single-use plastic bottles and plastic bags and wrappers. These lightweight items, the coalition says, can easily blow into the bay and ocean, causing harm to marine wildlife. The
coalition recommends that beachgoers bring durable coolers, hard plastic containers and reusable water bottles and to be sure to dispose of all trash and recyclables in a nearby bin. Major support for this year’s efforts comes from the City of San Diego Think Blue, The Local, Pacific Beach AleHouse, PB Shore Club, Backyard Kitchen and Tap, Bub’s Bar & Grill, Rubio’s, SeaWorld San Diego, Anheuser Busch, VAVi and Mission Beach Women’s Club. Additional information about the campaign is available at CleanBeachCoalition.org.