Thousands of residents and visitors will flock to San Diego County’s beaches to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday. However, if they were to visit that same coastline the morning after they would find the sight to be tarnished due to the thousands of pounds of trash that’s expected to be left behind.  Thankfully, the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter will be leading the cleanup efforts and they’re asking the community to join them.
On Wednesday, July 5, the Surfrider Foundation invites beach-lovers of all ages to join in the Morning After Mess cleanup series hosted from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ocean Beach Pier, Belmont Park in Mission Beach, Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and the Oceanside Pier. The Surfrider Foundation will host the Ocean Beach Pier and Oceanside Pier sites. Partner organizations, I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper will host the Belmont Park and Crystal Pier sites.
Bags and gloves will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable bag or bucket, and gloves to cut down on single-use plastic waste.  Participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian to sign for them. There is no need to pre-register.  
Local band, HIRIE will be joining the Ocean Beach Pier cleanup efforts. Popular radio station, FM 949 will also be supporting the cleanup efforts at Ocean Beach Pier and the Oceanside Pier.  Clif Bar is supporting the event as well and will be providing bars at all sites. Last year’s Morning After Mess saw a turnout of nearly 700 volunteers. Together, they removed 1,400 pounds of trash and nearly 400 pounds of recycling from four beaches in only three hours. Without the collective volunteer effort, all this litter may have washed into the sea where it would add to the already critical pollution problem devastating the world’s oceans today.
San Diego County Chapter coordinator, Caroline Canter, says “We’ve seen a significant decrease in the amount trash collected at our annual Morning After Mess since the drinking ban was put into effect in 2008, but there is still a ton of garbage left behind and we need volunteers to help make sure it doesn’t enter the ocean.”
The Surfrider Foundation is also working hard to stop the problem before it becomes the Morning After Mess.  Through successful programs like Rise Above Plastics and Hold Onto Your Butt, the organization uses outreach, education and advocacy to cut down on single-use plastics and cigarette butts before they reach the coast. The Surfrider Foundation’s mission is to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.
For more information on Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter’s Morning After Mess cleanups on July 5, visit http://sandiego.surfrider.org/morningaftermess, or contact Chapter Coordinator, Caroline Canter at [email protected]