I Love A Clean San Diego is looking for 8,000 volunteers to participate at more than 100 sites across San Diego County on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, as part of the 34th annual Coastal Cleanup Day. I Love A Clean San Diego has coordinated this event locally for 33 years and successfully mobilizes thousands of volunteers, while also supporting cleanup efforts in Tijuana. Volunteers of all ages and ability levels are encouraged to sign up for a site in their neighborhood and help leave a lasting impact on the entire region. For more information about sites and volunteer registration, visit CleanupDay.org.
Last year, Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers removed 137,299 pounds of trash and recyclables from San Diego and Tijuana regions that otherwise would have polluted the beloved coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Each volunteer who brings a reusable water bottle, work gloves, and/or a bucket to collect litter significantly reduces the need for single-use bags and disposable gloves.
Sony Electronics has returned to sponsor this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day Photo Contest where volunteers have the opportunity to win a Sony camera. Volunteers are encouraged to submit a photo of their Coastal Cleanup Day experience that best fits the theme, Cleaner Together. Photos for the Bling Your Bucket and Sony Photo Contests may be submitted to [email protected].
Coastal Cleanup Day covers more than the shoreline. I Love A Clean San Diego focuses the majority of its cleanup efforts along inland waterways and canyons. With 80 percent of marine debris coming from inland territories, volunteers learn first-hand the importance of keeping trash out of waterways that flow out to the ocean untreated through the storm drain system. 
Utilizing the Clean Swell app is another option for volunteers to help cut back on waste produced at this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day. Volunteers are encouraged to download the Clean Swell app to be used in place of paper data cards to track the debris collected at this event. The app is free and available to download for both iOS and Android devices.