California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept 17

On Saturday, September 17th, people of all ages can help make San Mateo County cleaner and greener by scouring beaches and watersheds during California Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest volunteer event of its kind in the State.

Families, students, service groups and neighbors will have the opportunity to help out at more than 30 cleanup sites across San Mateo County. Residents are invited to show up at any of the locations at 9 a.m., and most cleanups will end by noon

Coastal Cleanup Day is coordinated by the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program and California Coastal Commission. This is the 27th year thousands of Californians will work together along beaches, shorelines and inland waterways to pick up cigarette butts, cans, bottles, plastic bags, grocery carts, old tires and other debris. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own bucket or reusable bag, gloves, and reusable water bottle.

Last year, more than 4,200 volunteers in San Mateo County removed 42,000 pounds of trash and recyclables that would otherwise soil the County and threaten the health of wildlife. The vast majority of the debris wasn’t dropped on beaches or tossed into a watershed. Most of the debris started out as garbage on urban streets and was carried by storm drains or blown by the wind. This makes it critical to clean up neighborhood streets before trash flows to the Bay and ocean.

Click below for locations on the San Mateo County coast.

Daly City

• Thornton State Beach: Hwy 280 exit John Daly Blvd. west, right on Skyline Blvd., left on Olympic Way to Stables parking lot.

Pacifica (Celebration at noon for all Pacifica volunteers)

• San Pedro Creek Watershed: Meet at the north end of Pedro Point shopping center just south of Taco Bell off Hwy 1.
• Manor Bluff: Take Manor Drive west to the ocean. Meet in front of the Pacifica Post Office.
• Sharp Park: Meet at the start of the levee near the picnic tables on Beach Blvd at Clarendon just south of the Pacifica Pier.
• Linda Mar/Pacifica State Beach: Meet at the south end of Linda Mar State Beach parking lot near Taco Bell.
• Rockaway: Hwy1 to Rockaway Blvd, turn west to go to the end of the street. Meet by Nicks Restaurant.

Montara

• Montara State Beach: Meet in the Northern Parking lot of Montara State Beach (not the Outrigger). A cleanup crew will also be sent to Grey Whale Cove.

El Granada:

• Mirada Surf West: Cleanup the bluff and Surfers Beach at Mirada West in El Granada. Meet at the west side of Highway 1 at the intersection of Coronado & Highway 1.

Half Moon Bay

• Pilarcitos Creek: Meet in the Odwalla parking lot: 120 Stone Pine.
• Poplar State Beach: Located a half-mile west of Hwy 1 at the end of Poplar Ave. Off Hwy 1, just south of Half Moon Bay State Beach. Parking available at the bluff top parking lot.
• Francis State Beach: From Highway 1, turn west on Kelly Ave (south of Highway 92). Park in Francis State Beach parking lot.
• Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve: Meet at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP North Ridge Parking Lot. Gate PCO1. Volunteers will remove invasive, non-native Ivy along the scenic Whittemore Gulch Trail in the Purisima Creek Watershed. Age limit: 14+ Registration required (flowstobay.org/ccd), maximum number of volunteers needed 15.

Southcoast

• Pescadero State Beach: Off Hwy 1. Meet at the beach’s northern parking lot.
• Gazos Beach: Hwy 1, about 20 miles south of the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in HMB. Near the restaurant Gazos Grill.
• San Gregorio State Beach: Hwy 1 at Hwy 84 intersection. Meet in large parking lot - free parking for volunteers.