Registration for I Love A Clean San Diego’s (ILACSD) countywide cleanup, Creek to Bay Cleanup, is officially open at CreekToBay.org. The 16th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup is a one-day event that gives all local residents the opportunity to be a channel for change and create a cleaner, healthier San Diego County. ILACSD anticipates over 6,000 volunteers will participate in this year’s cleanup on April 21st from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. There are 114 cleanup locations in neighborhoods, parks, beaches, and open spaces throughout San Diego County for volunteers to get involved. A complete list of cleanup sites is available at CreekToBay.org.
With a tagline of “Your Neighborhood, Our Environment,” Creek to Bay highlights the importance of acting locally to contribute regionally. Volunteers can get involved at a site in or nearby their neighborhood and make a difference for the overall health and beauty of the entire county. In 2017, more than 6,500 volunteers demonstrated their dedication to San Diego’s environment, removing over 190,000 pounds of litter and debris during the three-hour event. While trash removal is a large focus of the event, volunteers will also enhance their communities through beautification projects such as native planting and graffiti removal. These beautification projects restore local outdoor areas and evoke a strong sense of community pride.
With a commitment to zero waste practices, ILACSD encourages volunteers to bring their own reusable water bottles, gardening or work gloves, and buckets to this year’s cleanup. By choosing reusable options, volunteers will reduce the amount of plastic waste produced at the cleanup, keeping thousands of single-use bags and disposable gloves out of San Diego’s crowded landfills. The “Bling Your Bucket” contest encourages creativity and conservation. Kids and adults can submit a photo of their decorated reusable trash collection bucket for the chance to win fun prizes.
The Creek to Bay Photo Contest, sponsored by Sony, will also be returning for another year. The Photo Contest allows volunteers to celebrate their volunteerism and commitment to reducing waste through reusable items. This year’s theme, Rocking Reusables, encourages youth and adults to capture photos highlighting their zero waste cleanup habits. The winner of this contest will receive a Sony Cybershot Camera!
Registration information and details regarding the Creek to Bay Cleanup can be found at CreekToBay.org.
