Santa Barbara County Cleans Up During Coastal Cleanup Month

Source: Explore Ecology

Thank you, Santa Barbara! You really cleaned up during this year’s Coastal Cleanup Month. 

The initial results are in. 776 volunteers participated and picked up over 3,981 pounds of trash. That’s 17,444 pieces of litter! Altogether, volunteers covered an estimated 68 miles throughout the County.

Some of the items found at Santa Barbara County sites include:

• Plastic Pieces: 2,796 
• Cigarette Butts: 2,710
• Food Wrappers: 1,950
• Plastic Bottle Caps: 711
• Plastic Beverage Bottles: 470
• Straws: 407
• Take Out Containers (Foam and Plastic): 388
• Plastic Bags: 350
• Gloves and Masks (PPE): 214

Coastal Cleanup Day is part of a much larger international event. The statewide count is being determined by the CA Coastal Commission and will be shared in a future press release. 

There may be more data coming in so the numbers for Santa Barbara County will probably change. Volunteers can still submit their data via the Clean Swell app or by any of the methods found at ExploreEcology.org/ccd. 

Jill Cloutier, PR Director for Explore Ecology, says, “We feel such gratitude for everyone who participated in Coastal Cleanup Month. This year’s Coastal Cleanup was very different- like many things in 2020. But, our volunteers actually more picked up more food wrappers, straws, take out containers, plastic bottle caps, plastic bags, and plastic bottles than in 2019. It’s amazing! Even during a pandemic, community members rose to the occasion and helped out. By picking up the litter in their neighborhoods, they’ve ensured that Santa Barbara County beaches are cleaner, that animals on land and in the ocean are safer, and that the first rain we get won’t be carrying as much trash into our creeks and ocean!” 

Volunteers are urged to take a survey about their Coastal Cleanup Month experience. The survey can be found here: Coastal-Cleanup-Day-2020-Volunteer-Survey. Volunteers who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for the Cleanup Prize Package which includes a $100 VISA gift card, a 2019 Coastal Cleanup t-shirt, a vintage Coastal Cleanup poster, a zippered canvas tote bag, and a Camelbak water bottle.

In Santa Barbara County, Coastal Cleanup Day is brought to the community by Explore Ecology, and the County of Santa Barbara Resource Recovery and Waste Management. The Cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Solvang also give support. Explore Ecology wants to thank Coastal Cleanup Beach Captains for helping out this year to and for their dedication to this yearly event.

Stay tuned for details about Coastal Cleanup Day 2021 on Explore Ecology’s website: ExploreEcology.org/Coastal-Cleanup-Day/.

About Explore Ecology: 

Explore Ecology is an environmental education and arts nonprofit that educates over 38,000 children a year, inspiring them to engage with the natural world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship. Explore Ecology programs include the Art From Scrap Creative ReUse Store and Gallery, Watershed Resource Center, and School Gardens Program. For more information, visit ExploreEcology.org.