San Clemente’s participation in the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday, September 19 yielded record participation and a huge haul of trash from the beach and the surrounding area, including the parks. According Mary Vondrak of the city’s Environmental Programs, 232 people showed up at the San Clemente Pier to help scour 2.8 miles of beach. Those volunteers netted 280 pounds of trash and 80 pounds of recyclables.

“Mostly same old, same old,’ said Vondrak of the haul, which included 2,340 cigarette butts, 1,140 pieces of Styrofoam and six shotgun shells. “There were a lot of broken glass bottles and a rusted bike. Most people commented that they felt bad they were only picking up little pieces of trash. However, that is the most helpful for us since the City beach cleaner can’t get the really fine pieces and they end up really accumulating on the beach and in the ocean where small fish and birds might mistake it for food.’

Vondrak thanked Bill Hart, Ken Nielson and Bob Jordan of the Coastal Advisory Committee and Ron Perugini of the Watershed Task Force all volunteered their time to help run the event, as well as Martin Garff from the church of Latter Day Saints and The Fisherman’s restaurant for donating food and coffee.

San Clemente’s Watershed Taskforce asks concerned residents to join its Adopt-A-Beach program to help maintain the cleanliness of the beach year-round.

www.scwatersheds.com

-Norb Garrett