While crowds estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands were expected to swell the shores of the local bays and beaches over the past Fourth of July weekend, local community groups were actively planning a counterattack on the inevitable waste the swarms of tourists would bring. “We are so lucky to live in one of the most beautiful, environmentally important areas in the entire state of California and we want to make sure we keep it that way,” said District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer during a press conference June 30. The San Diego Clean Beach Coalition, spearheaded by cleanpb.org seven years ago, has evolved into a local meeting of the minds that brings several environmentally friendly groups together for one coordinated plan to keep the beloved shoreline clean and safe. “It’s one coordinated effort,” Faulconer said. Aside from the nonprofit organizations involved in the holiday cleanup, many local businesses also pitched in to help raise the $15,000 needed for the project. Pacific Beach Shoreclub was this year’s lead sponsor, kicking in $5,000. “We’re very happy to donate to a cause like this,” said PB Shoreclub owner Billy Ramirez. “We’re on the beach. We look out our windows and that’s our view: the ocean, the beach, people having a good time. Keeping that clean not only in front of us but around Pacific Beach is important.” A big part of the setup for the weekend was strategically assembling and placing 110 super-size trash boxes and 90 extra large recycling boxes from Ocean Beach to La Jolla. Each box, which is made of cardboard, also had the rules of the beach printed on two sides, reminding visitors of the do’s and don’ts. The Park and Recreation Department stepped up its efforts by adding several 55-gallon blue trash bins and 90 portable restrooms along Mission Bay and the beach. The Park and Recreation Department also had several staff members actively patrolling for waste issues throughout the weekend in addition to staging a trash area on Fiesta Island to make sure recyclable items didn’t end up in the landfill. In addition to the prevention efforts, the coalition also organized a “morning-after mess cleanup” on the water’s edge July 5 to help pick up after those who may not have been environmentally responsible. That group was largely made up of volunteers from the community. The clean-beach coalition will be back in action for Labor Day weekend in August, concluding the group’s summer efforts to keep the sands and seas beautiful. For more information, visit www.cleanbeachcoalition.org.
