SOUTH BAY, CA — Thousands of volunteers will descend on beaches and waterways across Los Angeles County Saturday for California Coastal Cleanup Day, with nine sites spread across Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula offering South Bay residents a chance to take part close to home.
The 42nd annual California Coastal Cleanup Day runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19, with more than 60 locations planned across LA County and hundreds more statewide. The California Coastal Commission describes it as the state's largest annual volunteer event, encompassing beaches as well as rivers, creeks, lakes and other waterways.
Heal the Bay has coordinated the Los Angeles County effort for 37 years in partnership with the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Conservancy. Last year, 6,722 volunteers removed 19,139 pounds of trash and another 610 pounds of recycling from 70 LA County sites.
Nancy Shrodes, Heal the Bay's Director of Community Engagement, told Patch that turnout is generally strong across the region, with some longtime site captains developing their own followings of returning volunteers.
Rather than trying to determine which beach needs the most help, she encouraged South Bay residents to simply choose a convenient location. "Honestly, I feel like all sites could use a lot of love," Shrodes said. "So we really just encourage people to start where they are and find the location nearest them."
"Every bit of help really, really counts," she added.
Manhattan Beach volunteers can choose among three locations: Bruce's Beach, where Kinecta Federal Credit Union is serving as site captain; El Porto, led by International Business Machines Corp.; and Manhattan Beach Pier, where the Roundhouse Aquarium is hosting its annual cleanup. All three are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Pier event adds a community-science component to the morning. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. at the base of Manhattan Beach Pier, followed by a safety briefing and a stop at the supplies station before volunteers spread out along the shoreline.
Before leaving, participants are asked to return their collected debris and data cards to the Roundhouse weigh station. The Aquarium sends the information gathered at its site to the California Coastal Commission, helping document what volunteers are removing from the shoreline.
Registration and additional information for the Manhattan Beach Pier cleanup are available from the Roundhouse Aquarium.
Three more locations stretch along Redondo Beach, giving volunteers options from the Esplanade to the Pier.
The Avenue C cleanup will be led by Heal the Bay's volunteer program, while Rancho Vista Elementary School is leading a cleanup at Topaz Street. At the south side of Redondo Beach Pier, the South Bay Association of Realtors will serve as site captain. Each runs from 9 a.m. to noon.
The debris collected Saturday is part of a much larger watershed problem, Shrodes said. Storms can carry plastic pieces, cigarette butts, bottle caps and other trash through communities and storm drains toward the ocean, while less visible pollutants including motor oil, chemicals, pesticides and bacteria can travel along the same route.
Shrodes said coastal areas and harbors can be particularly affected after rain because large portions of the Los Angeles County watershed ultimately drain toward the ocean.
"After we experience a storm, that's when we see high levels of pollution," she said.
That connection between inland communities and the coast is one reason Coastal Cleanup Day extends far beyond beaches. The California Coastal Commission notes that virtually every body of water in the state eventually flows toward the sea, meaning removing trash upstream can prevent it from reaching the coast later.
Across the Palos Verdes Peninsula, volunteers have three more options, including one that requires a rather more strenuous trip to the sand. In Rancho Palos Verdes, the Los Serenos de Point Vicente Docents will lead volunteers from Founders Park, 1 Trump National Drive, down to Rancho Palos Verdes Beach and the Ocean Trails Reserve.
The city warns that the route follows a steep pathway and sandy beach, and recommends sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Volunteers are asked to bring a bucket, garden gloves, sunscreen, a hat and refillable water bottle because supplies will be limited and could run out.
Free parking is available in the public lot at the end of Trump National Drive and along the road. Carpooling or ridesharing is recommended, and the city specifically asks participants not to park in the golf course lot. Full details for the Founders Park cleanup are available from the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
A second Rancho Palos Verdes cleanup is scheduled at Terranea Cove, with Terranea Resort serving as site captain. Farther north on the Peninsula, Heal the Bay's volunteer program will lead a third cleanup at Malaga Cove Beach/RAT Beach in Palos Verdes Estates. Both run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Shrodes, who grew up in the South Bay and now leads Heal the Bay's community engagement work, said volunteers should prepare for several hours outside rather than treating the cleanup as a race.
Water will be available at cleanup sites, she said, although participants are encouraged to bring reusable containers along with sunscreen and other sun protection. Safety briefings will also be given before volunteers head out.
"Take your time," Shrodes said. "It's harder to walk around in the sand. It can get really hot."
Organizers aren't trying to set cleanup records at the expense of volunteers suffering heat exhaustion, she said, and some locations will have tents or other places where participants can take a break in the shade.
Statewide, more than 40,000 volunteers removed almost 400,000 pounds of trash from California shorelines, lakes and waterways during last year's cleanup, according to Caltrans. Organizers expect more than 50,000 people to participate at more than 700 sites across California this year.
The California Coastal Commission's interactive map includes locations across the state, while Heal the Bay's Coastal Cleanup Day page provides information and registration for LA County events.
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