The coast is clear — for now.
Tens of thousands of volunteers showed up at beaches, harbors, parks, trails and lakes on Saturday, Sept. 19, ready to clean — a chance not just to give back, but also to tackle the trash that has collected between inland communities anhttps://www.ocregister.com/2026/09/17/surfboards-made-of-cigarettes-documentary-on-trashy-boards-shines-light-for-coastal-cleanup-day/d the coast before El Niño storms wash in down waterways and into the ocean.
Read more Sean McVay: Rams WR Puka Nacua is ‘questionable’ with hip injury for Monday
California Coastal Cleanup Day marked its 42nd year on Saturday, a collective volunteer effort that brought together volunteers at more than 700 cleanup sites around the state. The day is held in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day, making it a global affair reaching coasts around the world.
Flor Hotchkiss looks at a piece of plastic she pulled from the sand while collecting pollution for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
David Dubon digs through sand while his mother, Karlen, looks on while the two volunteered for the California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Veronica Maldonado and Adrian and Steve Arguello retrieve a piece of trash while volunteering in the California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Orange County Conservation Corps supervisor Juan Rojas pours trash into a bag while members Jose Contreras, Daniel Alvarez, and Kevin Ventura help separate the different streams of garbage and recyclables collected by volunteers during the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Orange County Conservation Corps members Jose Contreras and Kevin Ventura separate trash and recyclables from one another after volunteers for the California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach returned with their findings in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. Ventura said the event usually results in the collection of about five bags of pollution. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Cassidy Sumague and Eric Heng look at a piece of foam they collected during California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Danny Tran and Ari Pham search the sand for pollution during California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Denise Litonjua selects her trash picker before embarking on the trash hunt during the California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
David Dubon finds plastic in the sand at Huntington State Beach during the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers comb through Huntington State Beach during California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Travis Morgan searches the sand for trash during a company volunteer day for Panasonic at the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach while Deborah Rodriguez, Jamie Cortes, and Jade Cruz pass by, also on the hunt for pollution in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
After being collected, the pollution picked up by volunteers for California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach was divided into recyclables and trash in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Hendy Kusumadilaga puts trash into his bag while on the hunt for pollution during the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. “We do what we can,” said Kusumadilaga. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Adrian Arguello and Veronica Maldonado look at the waves together while volunteering in the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers line up to take part in California Coastal Cleanup Day at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, California on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)
Rainfall — and there is more than usual expected from a forecasted El Niño — washes trash and pollution from gutters and streets, storm drains and creeks into the ocean, organizers said, so Coastal Cleanup Day provides an opportunity to prevent even greater harm to the coast and the wildlife that calls it home.
The event is put on by the California Coastal Commission, with the help of local nonprofit and environmental groups. The cleanup has grown to include all 58 California counties.
“As we celebrate the 50th year of the Coastal Act, Coastal Cleanup Day serves as an important reminder that we all need to show up to protect our coast,” Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge said in a statement. “Year after year, Californians demonstrate their commitment to a clean and healthy coast and ocean, proving that Californians will take action to save our state’s iconic shoreline.”
Read more Football roundup: Mission Viejo, Orange, Foothill among the Week 4 winners
Based on early reports from the field on Saturday afternoon, Orange County Coastkeeper said at least 16,700 pounds of trash was collected during cleanups around the county. More than 2,300 volunteers helped out.
One of the larger cleanups was held at Huntington State Beach, where more than 400 volunteers scoured the sand for debris. There were also educational booths with local nonprofits on hand, and shopping with sustainable products on display.
Orange County Coastkeeper serves as the regional coordinator for Orange County, helping to tally results and coordinate with more than 30 simultaneous cleanup events.
“Every piece of trash removed today represents a small but meaningful act of care for our waterways and ocean,” said Matt Sylvester, spokesperson with OC Coastkeeper, said in a statement. “As we celebrate 50 years of the Coastal Act, we’re grateful for the thousands of people who continue to show up and take responsibility for the future of our coast.”
Read more Car fans honor a century of Route 66