Nearly 1200 volunteers did their part to help keep our beaches and waterways clear of debris that often ends up in the ocean. As part of the 32nd annual International Coastal Cleanup Day organized by the Ocean Conservancy, volunteers collected trash from 30 area-wide locations. The Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO) hosted the event.
Cleanups took place primarily at coastal spots from San Simeon Cove to Oceano Dunes, but also included Oso Flaco, Lopez and Santa Margarita lakes.
Volunteers picked up 5,445 pounds of trash (about 1,000 pounds more than last year) and an additional 1,067 pounds of recyclable materials for a total of 6,512 pounds. The top five reporting sites for pounds of trash are the Oceano Dunes with 1,088 pounds, Pirates Cove with 840 lbs., Arroyo Grande Creek with 703 lbs., Morro Strand Dog Beach/Toro Creek with 661 lbs., and Lopez Lake with 493 lbs.
“I think that the mentality of pack it in and pack it out just isn’t resonating with people,” said ECOSLO Executive Director Mary Ciesinski. “There is an increase in the population, so there is an increase in debris. We are the only species that is producing trash that needs to be cleaned up.”
Ciesinski said that the high numbers at Oceano and Pirates Cove could be related to the fact that they are more remote locations with few people to discourage others from leaving behind their trash.
Although Coastal Cleanup Day is concentrated on beaches, much of the debris did not originate there. Ciesinski said that about 80 percent of the trash originated elsewhere and traveled to beaches via creeks, rivers and storm drains. All of it has devastating effects on the state’s health, economy, and wildlife. That combined with the ever-increasing footprint of single-use disposable plastic packaging only makes the problem larger and more difficult to manage.
“It is not just Coastal Cleanup Day that we need to pick up trash,” said Ciesinski. “Any time we are at the beach, if we see trash or see someone that is leaving their trash, just ask them to pick it up or pick it up for them. As frustrating as it is to see other people leave trash, the only way it is going to get picked up, is if we take the initiative to do it and set the example. We need to set the example all year long.”
Unusual items picked up during the three-hour event include a recliner at Pirates Cove, a Christmas tree at Morro Strand Dog Beach/Toro Creek, nearly 1,000 nails and several palettes at Morro Strand Dog Beach/Toro Creek, a DVD player at Montana de Oro, a mixing bowl attachment at Morro Strand South / HWY 41, and a checkbook at the Pismo Pier.
