WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is Coming - Help Protect our Waterways!
Ocean pollution is a serious problem that can not only affect our recreational enjoyment, but also the health of beachgoers and aquatic life. Come join I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) and hundreds of other ocean-loving volunteers worldwide on September 19th in protecting our ocean and its beautiful coastline by participating in the California’s largest organized cleanup effort focused on waterway pollution prevention.
Why is this day (and every day) so important when it comes to protecting our waterways?
While cleanup efforts truly make a difference in reducing ocean pollution, preventing it at the source is a critical starting point. Surprisingly, 80% of debris found during beach cleanups comes from land-based sources such as trash, packaging, and improperly disposed waste. These pollutants can enter our waterways in three main ways: rain carrying trash to our storm drains, wind blowing trash into waterways, or dumping trash directly into the water. At beach cleanups, the top items found are primarily composed of plastic materials, cigarette butts, food wrappers, bags, bottle caps and straws. Plastics contain harmful toxins that endanger aquatic life and our ecosystems, leach chemicals into our waters, and break down into microplastics. Also, since they are not biodegradable, they can persist in the environment for years to come.
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Help prevent pollutants from even reaching our waters in the first place by taking the following simple actions!
- Secure lids on trash and recycling bins to prevent debris from blowing into the storm drain system, replace leaking and deteriorating cans, and place containers out only on collection day.
- Throw cigarette butts in designated ash trays or receptacles. Carry a pocket ashtray for times when an ashtray is not available and ask friends and family to pick up their cigarette butts.
- Prevent water from running off your property. Runoff can carry a variety of pollutants to our waterways, untreated, through our storm drain system. Watch this video to learn more.
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Recycling rules and programs products whenever possible and stay informed on local recycling rules and programs. Pay particular attention to using reusable bottles and more sustainable alternatives like glass and aluminum instead of single-use plastics. Leave reusable bags in your car for your grocery shopping.
- Dine at ocean-friendly restaurants that are committed to cutting out wasteful single-use plastic and making sustainable choices to protect our ocean.
- Learn more about aquatic trash through EPA’s Trash Free Waters and What You Can Do About Trash Pollution webpages. Closer to home, check out the San Diego County 2025 Marine Debris Report to learn more about trash in our local waterways and the tremendous impact of our local beach and park cleanup efforts.
- Join local cleanups such as this month’s Annual Coastal Cleanup Day and other cleanup events throughout the year. I Love A Clean San Diego and Surfrider Foundation hold monthly cleanups at various locations throughout the County. Check out their event calendars to find one near you.
Along with organized cleanup efforts that the County of San Diego regularly co-hosts, it takes other measures to ensure the safety and health of its residents, and the protection of our water resources. Check out the County’s new Beach & Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program to stay on top of current local beach water quality advisories and closures.
County-Sponsored Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events – September 2026
Play a role in protecting the County’s waterways from stormwater pollution by attending these pollution-prevention and waste reduction events being offered in September.
Unincorporated Residents of San Diego Recycling and Waste Reduction Events – Learn how to reduce waste by fixing things instead of throwing items away at the following San Diego Fix-It Clinics in September. Bring broken or non-working items for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. Workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you take apart and troubleshoot your item will be provided. Clinics hosted by SD Fixit Clinic with the help of many other zero waste partners.
I Love a Clean San Diego (ILACSD) – The following Watershed Warriors Events will be offered in September.
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September 12, 9am to 11am – Ramona – Main Street Sweep. Learn more or register.
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September 19, 9am to 12pm - 42nd Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. The County of San Diego is one of the sponsors and supports this event in partnership with the Ocean Conservancy and California Coastal Commission. Learn more or register.
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September 26, 9am to 11am – Lakeside – Vine Street Sweep. Learn more or register.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – Healthy Garden-Healthy Home Workshop Fall Virtual Workshop Series - Introduction to Gardening – September 26, 10am to 11:30am – Learn how to improve our water resources through a series of fall workshops on gardening, irrigation, and pest management topics. September’s topic will focus on an Introduction to Gardening and getting started in a new garden. Learn more or register.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following events will be offered in September.
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September 26, 10:30am to 12:30pm – Gardening Practices that Save Water Workshop – Learn how to create a less thirsty and more environmentally-friendly landscape that saves water and money. Topics include managing irrigation, using mulch and compost effectively to reduce water use and erosion, rainwater management basics, San Diego climate-appropriate planting, and more. Residents of unincorporated County of San Diego will receive preferential registration. All pre-registered attendees who are residents of unincorporated San Diego County will receive a FREE kitchen scraps container, courtesy of the County of San Diego. Site location: Pine Valley Library. Learn more or register.
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September 26, 6pm to 7pm – Backyard Composting Basics Webinar – Learn the basics and importance of traditional backyard composting. Topics include how to build, maintain, and troubleshoot a compost pile along with necessary tools and materials. You’ll also learn about various compost bin options and how to pick which one works best for your needs. Learn more or register.
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