More than 450 volunteers spread out across four popular beaches July 5 during the post-Fourth of July “Morning After Mess” cleanup series coordinated by the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego County chapter. By midday, organizers said volunteers had scooped up 2,372 pounds of trash and 195 pounds of recyclable waste that otherwise would have been washed into the sea.
The cleanup efforts, a collaboration of San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love a Clean San Diego, covered areas around the Ocean Beach Pier, Belmont Park in Mission Beach, Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and the South Harbor Jetty in Oceanside. Sites were chosen because of the high concentration of beachgoers and notorious reputations for post-Fourth of July trash. This year’s event was sponsored by radio station 102.1FM KPRi and healthy snack company Clif Bar.
Surfrider chapter coordinator Haley Jain Haggerstone said she was pleased with the turnout and the amount of litter collected. 
“It’s no wonder so many people choose to celebrate Independence Day on our beaches here in San Diego,” she said. “But more visitors means more trash, which threatens our oceans, waves and beaches.  We want to remind everyone to stay classy, not trashy, and help keep our beaches clean … It’s kind of a big deal.”
Few holidays generate more trash on San Diego County beaches than the Fourth of July. This year’s “Morning After Mess” event recovered 764 plastic bags, 1,163 pieces of styrofoam and 12,685 cigarette butts.
Through campaigns like Rise Above Plastics and Hold Onto Your Butt, Surfrider uses education, outreach and advocacy to cut down on single-use plastics and cigarette butts before they reach beaches. 
For more information on Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter, visit surfridersd.org, email [email protected], or call (619) 929-5350.