International Coastal Cleanup Day returns to San Diego County for its 39th edition on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon Me encanta un san diego limpio (ILACSD) is the San Diego host for the international coastal cleanup and will be joining many U.S. states, territories, and more than 150 countries across the world. The annual event brings together thousands of San Diegans to preserve the health of over 100 local parks, beaches, creeks, and oceans. Individuals, friends and family, and corporate teams are encouraged to volunteer. Registrations for Coastal Cleanup Day are open at cleanupday.org.

“Witnessing thousands of San Diegans work together on a single day is truly heartening,” said Kristin Banks, regional programs manager at I Love A Clean San Diego. “Last year, we were joined by more than 4,000 residents, and we expect more San Diegans to participate this year!”

I Love A Clean San Diego has served as the official organizer of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County since its founding in 1985. The event has hosted over 272,000 volunteers countywide who have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since its inception. In addition to removing litter, volunteers will compile litter totals from their site to capture the impact in San Diego and contribute to the worldwide total. International Coastal Cleanup is facilitated by The Ocean Conservancy and organized statewide by the Comisión Costera de California.

Each year, I Love A Clean San Diego selects an official kickoff site for Coastal Cleanup Day. In an effort to bring awareness and aid in the cross-border ocean pollution, this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day kickoff site will be hosted at YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. Volunteers at the kickoff site hear from elected officials and can engage with booths from partners like Coastal Cleanup Day Presenting Partner Piensa en Blue San Diego. Think Blue – the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department – implements innovative, proactive steps to stop pollution before it goes untreated into the storm drain system and has been a long-time supporter of ILACSD’s community cleanups and youth educational programs. Think Blue’s mission is to build and maintain effective stormwater infrastructure to improve local water quality, prevent pollution and create flood-safe communities.

“San Diego is defined by the natural beauty of its beaches and coastal waters, and as pollution continues to threaten San Diego’s quality of life, we must work together to preserve and protect those natural resources for future generations,” said Think Blue program manager Craig Gustafson of the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department. “Collaborative cleanups like this help stop ocean pollution before it starts and show the power of individual and collective action. We can all ‘Think Blue’ by taking simple everyday steps – from properly disposing of trash and pet waste to not overwatering lawns – that help ensure clean water and clean beaches for all.”