CARLSBAD — Keeping its beaches clean is a priority for the city and state.
The city is looking for volunteers for the 32nd annual California Coastal Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 at Tamarack State Beach, according to a press release from the city.
Volunteers are urged to bring a 5-gallon bucket, work gloves and a reusable water bottle. The city, however, will provide gloves, trash bags and water cups, but recommends individuals bring their own to prevent further waste.
They will not only pick up trash, but also collect data on types of trash and debris found. This data is used to educate the public, businesses, industries and government on pollution prevention.
Volunteers can register online (cleanupday.org) by clicking on the map for the cleanup at Tamarack State Beach or any other registered sites. All volunteers are required to sign a waiver to participate, and participants under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. The waiver form is available on the website or at the event.
California Coastal Cleanup Day is sponsored by I Love A Clean San Diego and is part of the larger International Coastal Cleanup Day. The cleanup includes events at more than 100 locations throughout San Diego County, including several sites in Carlsbad.
“The city of Carlsbad has participated in this cleanup event for over a decade. It’s a great way to engage our community and protect our creeks, lagoons and ocean,” said James Wood, acting environmental manager for the city. “Beaches and creeks provide recreation and habitat, which are central to the Carlsbad way of life.”
In 2015, 100 volunteers removed more than 800 pounds of trash and recyclables from two miles of Buena Vista Creek. The most common forms of trash found are cigarette butts, plastics and Styrofoam, which are not biodegradable.
Some of the trash and debris is left by beach-goers, Wood said, but it can also travel to the beach from inland communities through the storm drain system. Rainwater and urban runoff transport pollutants into local creeks, lagoons and the ocean.
“The cleanup is a great way to not only enjoy our beaches and creeks, but also to do our part to keep them beautiful,” he said.
