On Saturday, September 20, 4,719 volunteers joined forces across Orange County’s waterways and beaches for California Coastal Cleanup Day, removing 31,662 pounds of trash in a single morning. Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, this annual statewide event brings people together to clean creeks, rivers, lakes, and shorelines before the wet season begins. Now in its 41st year, Coastal Cleanup Day has grown into California’s largest volunteer effort.
More than 35 cleanup events took place simultaneously across inland and coastal Orange County from La Habra to San Clemente, each coordinated by local organizations and agencies committed to tackling marine debris in their neighborhoods.
Find the full list of 2025 cleanup locations here.
Photo: Volunteers in Orange, CA with the Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance
These cleanups give volunteers the chance to remove trash before it’s swept into the ocean. Research shows most marine debris originates on land, making these efforts a critical step in protecting our coasts. Each September, California Coastal Cleanup Day mobilizes tens of thousands of volunteers just in time for the rainy season.
Photo: Orange County Coastkeeper volunteers at Huntington State Beach
As the regional coordinator for Orange County, Coastkeeper helps distribute supplies, register volunteers, and promote each cleanup site. In addition to assisting countywide, Coastkeeper hosted its own cleanup and sustainability fair at Huntington State Beach, where 422 volunteers removed 393 pounds of trash.
You don’t have to wait until next year’s Coastal Cleanup Day to make a difference; Coastkeeper hosts cleanups every month in Huntington Beach, San Clemente, and rotating locations.
Coastkeeper would like to extend a huge, heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors and exhibitors for making this event a success. Their support, contributions, and on-the-ground involvement powered this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day.
Sponsors
Sustainability Fair Exhibitors
