The absence of extra trash receptacles will be evident over the long Memorial Day weekend along the shorelines of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Mission Bay, according to representatives of the Clean Beach Coalition, who addressed the Pacific Beach Town Council during a May 19 meeting. Because of the shortage, beachgoers will notice many temporary, white cardboard bins for trash needs. “It’s become kind of a staple for the holiday season,” said Karolyn Estrada, a San Diego Parks and Recreation employee. The cardboard bins have proved necessary and have brimmed with trash after the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays in the last four years. “The existing trash cans aren’t enough,” said Natalie Roberts, a representative of I Love a Clean San Diego, who spoke on behalf of the Clean Beach Coalition. The coalition is made up of organizations such as I Love a Clean San Diego, the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and Free PB. Together, the groups ensure that ample trash and recycling receptacles are visible and available to beachgoers during the summer holidays. “We will all be coordinating cleanup post-holiday weekend,” said Roberts, who added that volunteers are welcome. “We would appreciate any donation anyone can make,” said Roberts, who also encouraged meeting participants to be vocal in letting the community know that sponsors are needed to ensure an ample supply of trash bins for the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. “We are looking for community-minded businesses,” said Roberts. Companies or individuals can become sponsors of the trash-collection process by donating between $500 and $5,000. “We do have a goal of $12,000,” said Roberts. The coalition has currently raised $8,000 and needs $4,000 more to meet the bare minimum requirement for funding the cardboard bins. Posters are available for local businesses to place in their windows, alerting customers to the different manners in which the public can assist the Clean Beach Coalition. For more information, visit www.cleanbeachcoalition.org








