Volunteers Pick Up 185,003 Pounds of Trash in California

Statewide Coastal Cleanup Day drew thousands of volunteers ahead of an anticipated El Niño winter.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy

Wide view of a rocky Northern California coastline at low tide with a collection bucket and gathered debris on wet sand, surf and cliffs beyond. — Volunteers picked up 185,003 pounds of trash during California's 42nd Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, ahead of an expected El Niño winter. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Volunteers picked up 185,003 pounds of trash during California's 42nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 19, with 40% of sites reporting. The statewide effort also collected 7,051 pounds of recyclable materials across more than 700 sites in the state's 58 counties.

Why it matters

The cleanup was held ahead of an anticipated El Niño winter, whose increased rainfall could wash trash from creeks and streams into the ocean. Organizers say the effort helps keep debris out of coastal waters before that runoff season arrives.

Volunteers reporting from 40% of sites recorded 185,003 pounds of trash and 24,835 participants, and the California Coastal Commission estimates more than 50,000 volunteers will ultimately take part. Final totals remain pending because most sites had not yet reported.

The players

California Coastal Commission

The state agency that sponsors Coastal Cleanup Day and oversees coastal protection under the California Coastal Act.

Ocean Conservancy

The nonprofit environmental organization that coordinates the International Coastal Cleanup, of which California's event is a part.

The details

Volunteers received gloves, buckets, vests, trash bags, and grabbers after a safety briefing, then fanned out to South Beach, Elk Creek, Point Saint George, and other access areas. In Crescent City, 35 volunteers contributed more than 1,800 pounds of trash, which was disposed of at the Del Norte County Transfer Station without charge.

September 19: Coastal Cleanup Day held statewide and in Crescent City.
1985: First Coastal Cleanup Day held; since then 1.8 million volunteers have removed more than 13,500 tons of trash.

Roadmap

The 42nd annual cleanup is being marked alongside the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act, which established the coastal protections the event supports. The effort continues a volunteer tradition that began in 1985 and has grown into a statewide program across the state's 58 counties.

Residents can join local cleanup efforts to keep trash out of coastal waters before the expected El Niño rainfall. Volunteering or reporting debris along the coast helps reduce the amount of waste that could wash into the ocean during the winter season.

The takeaway

Small, local efforts add up: volunteers have removed more than 13,500 tons of trash since 1985. Staying involved in neighborhood cleanups is one practical way to protect the coast before storm runoff arrives.