Nineteen MSC members and friends, plus one dog, were greeted with an onshore flow of fog, wind, and cold, plus an outpouring of benevolence on Saturday, September 19.
We joined forces to clean, comb, and find unusual stuff at Kirby Cove. Thanks to our co-chairs, Steve Raffo and Claire Mikowski, with very thankful assistance from Elliott Zalta.
Claire exclaimed: “Every piece of plastic removed is a gift to sea life. Each piece of trash you recorded on your data sheet becomes evidence that industry and individuals alike must be held responsible for the health of our oceans. Steve said that you harvested 35 pounds of trash! Way to go!”
All in all, it was a great haul for a few hours’ work. MSC volunteers even found a 60-lb. fiberglass boat side.
Participation Scope: Cleanups spanned all of California’s 58 counties, from ocean shorelines to inland areas like Lake Tahoe
The 2026 Statistics
The 42nd annual California Coastal Cleanup Day reported these statewide statistics (60% of sites reporting as of 9/20):
- Total Volunteers: 28,751
- Total Debris Collected: 254,772 lbs. (127.38 tons)
- Trash Collected: 242,313 lbs. (121.56 tons)
- Recyclable Materials Collected: 12,461 lbs. (6.23 tons)
We look forward to seeing an even larger turnout next September.
California Coastal Commission Website
