Creek to Bay Cleanup

Thank you to all supporters and volunteers of this year's most successful Creek to Bay Cleanup yet!  This year 5,181 volunteers spanned out across 69 coastal and inland cleanup sites throughout San Diego County, removing 160,000 pounds of debris.  Not only did these volunteers protect communities countywide, but they additionally prevented marine debris caused by litter that travels from San Diego's creeks, streams and storm drains to the coast where it contaminates our bays and beaches.  In addition to litter removal, volunteers also took part in projects including storm drain stenciling, tree planting, weeding, and graffiti removal.

Click here for more details about each cleanup sites' accomplishments.

APRIL 25, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – As another beautiful day in San Diego draws to a close, I Love A Clean San Diego has some exciting news to report. Today marked the 8^th anniversary of the Creek to Bay Cleanup, an annual event which removes debris from San Diego’s beaches, bays and waterways. This year’s event was especially successful as volunteers collected the events one millionth pound of trash.

Close to 300 volunteers gathered at Southcrest Community Park this morning to hear from Supervisor Greg Cox, Council President Ben Hueso and other event supporters. Following the kick off, everyone fanned out to remove trash and engage in a variety of service projects to beautify the community. Volunteers successfully planted 40 trees, stenciled 54 storm drains, and filled dumpsters with thousands of pounds of trash and weeds.

With 85% of cleanup sites reporting their totals thus far, over 4,500 volunteers have been confirmed as attending this morning’s cleanup. Participants removed the typical cigarette butts and food wrappers, but also came across some interesting items. A few of the most unusual items this year included a cash register, two fire hoses, and a ThighMaster. Some sites collected an especially high number of syringes, posing concerns regarding the lack of options available for people to properly dispose of their medical waste after sharps were banned from landfills in 2008.

“The most satisfying part of the Creek to Bay Cleanup is seeing community members from all walks of life working together toward a common goal: protecting our environment,” said Pauline Martinson, I Love A Clean San Diego’s executive director. “It’s important that people participate in cleanups so they can see firsthand the effects that litter and illegal dumping have on their communities.”

For San Diegans who may have missed this year’s Creek to Bay, there are still plenty of other ways to show your support for the environment. ILACSD coordinates community cleanup events each month and encourages San Diegans to get involved all year long.

ILACSD promotes awareness of environmental issues including resource conservation, waste reduction and recycling, community enhancement, and pollution prevention. For more information about I Love A Clean San Diego, visit www.cleansd.org or call 1-800-237-BLUE.

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