It’s easy to participate! Simply follow the steps below, and you’re on your way to having a great time at this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day!
1. Register
Although this step is optional, by registering with Heal the Bay, you’ll be informed via e-mail of the latest news regarding your participation in this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day. We’ll even send you a reminder right before the big day!
2. Select a Location
Cleanups will be held at Los Angeles County beaches, inland creeks & rivers, on the water...even under the water! Simply select the cleanup location that you would like to help clean. To locate a cleanup site outside of Los Angeles County, please call 800-COAST-4U or visit the California Coastal Commission website.
3. Prepare Beforehand!
- Print & sign the waiver form
Everybody who joins us for Coastal Cleanup Day is required to sign a waiver. Although we’ll have waivers at each cleanup location, your check-in will be smoother and faster if you arrive with your signed waiver. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have the appropriate liability waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before participating in a beach cleanup. Please view & print a waiver, have it signed today, and bring it with you on Coastal Cleanup Day! - Dress and supplies
Although all cleanup supplies are provided by the California Coastal Commission at all sites, you'll need to dress appropriately and bring a few of your own items. Please review What to Wear & Bring to make your cleanup as comfortable and fun as possible! In general, if you plan on attending a beach site, wear layers, and if you're going inland to clean, wear clothes that will allow you to get down and dirty in creek beds and rivers. - CCD flyer
Bring a copy of the CCD flyer to display on your car dashboard to benefit from the free and/or discounted parking from 9am - 12 noon at all of the 70+ cleanup sites in L.A. county.
4. Check-In (opens at 9am)
On September 20th when you arrive at the cleanup site, make sure you tell the parking attendant that you are participating in Coastal Cleanup Day and leave a copy of the CCD Flyer on your dashboard. You should be allowed to park at for free or at a discounted rate. Check-in opens at 9am. Please arrive early enough to complete your cleanup participation and report back to the site captain by 11:30am.
After parking, look for the site captain. There should be a tent or a cluster of tables with a Coastal Cleanup Day or Heal the Bay sign/banner. You'll then proceed through three stations as follows:
- Station #1: Waivers
If you haven’t brought a signed waiver, please sign one and leave it with the site captain(s) - Station #2: Safety & Education Talk
The site captain(s) will give your group a site orientation, review the Safety Instructions, instruct you on how to clean your site, and why. Each site will have special instructions to follow day of, so pay attention to the instructions given by your cleanup captains! - Station #3: Supplies
Here you'll receive a trash bag, recycle bag, data card, pencil, and glove. Volunteers will be working in teams of three to five.
5. On the Beach
Remember that data collection is important! Your data goes into the Ocean Conservancy’s international database, which is used to identify the sources of trash and to help devise solutions to the marine debris problem. Be sure to return trash, recyclables and your data card to the beach or site captain by 11:30am after the cleanup to be weighed and counted. Try to condense the bags and tie them closed.
6. Cleanup Results
Check back on this website to find out how much trash was picked up and how many people participated throughout L.A. County and statewide. You'll be amazed by how much is accomplished in just one day! If you registered for Coastal Cleanup Day (see Step 1), results will be e-mailed to you.