Join a cleanup event every Saturday in September!
Coastal Cleanup Month is one of the biggest volunteer events in California, and it began right here in Humboldt
Choose a site below and follow the link to register so that we make sure to bring enough supplies for everyone:
Sept 7 Baker Beach: 9:30-12 – Trinidad Coastal Land Trust
NEC Block Cleanup: 11-1 – Northcoast Environmental Center
Labor Temple (Eureka): 11-3 – Central Labor Council
Sept 14 Crab Park: 10-1 – Friends of the Eel
Cooper’s Gulch: 11-1 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of the NC
Sept 15 Freshwater Farms Reserve: 9-12 – Northcoast Regional Land Trust
Sept 21 Shelter Cove: 9-12 – Friends of the Lost Coast
North Jetty: 10-12 – Surfrider Humboldt
Samoa Power Poles: 9-10:30 – RCAA
King Salmon: 10-12 – Hawkes Helpers
Sept 28 Arcata Bay Trail: 9-12 – Volunteer Trail Stewards
Wigi (Humboldt) Bay: 9-12:30 – Explore North Coast (kayak)
Humboldt Coastal Nature Center: 10-1 – Friends of the Dunes
Centerville Beach: 11-1 – Wildlands Conservancy
Coastal Cleanup Month (CCM) is one of the biggest volunteer events in California, and it began right here in Humboldt at the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC). As Humboldt County’s Coastal Cleanup Day and Month Coordinator, the NEC inspires community members to remove thousands of pounds of trash in our region every year. The cities of Arcata and Eureka have joined in our endeavor by proclaiming September as “Coastal Cleanup Month”. We invite you to support the NEC by becoming a Coastal Cleanup Month Sponsor. Your support helps us fund ongoing volunteer programs and waste reduction efforts, including future Coastal Cleanup events, the Adopt-A-Beach and Block programs, Zero Waste Lending Library, the EcoNews Coastal Column, the Plankton Monitoring Program, and multiple educational programs. Our concerted efforts foster coastal stewardship while training young scientists and environmental enthusiasts in valuable skills for their future.
Helpful Links:
- Safe Cleanups Guide
- Best Trash-Picking Spots Guide
- Marine Debris ID Guide
- Trash Data Collection Form
- Free cleanup supply rentals
- Marine Debris Tracker App
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About
Help us celebrate 45 years of coastal stewardship on the North coast by participating in Coastal Cleanup Month 2024! What was once a one-day event has been expanded to include cleanups every weekend in September, so you have more opportunities than ever to join with friends and family to make a difference for the environment. This month-long event will feature citizen science data collection and weekly prize raffles for participants!
Become a Site Captain
Site captains host a cleanup site that community members can sign up to attend, and are responsible for welcoming volunteers, distributing supplies, and coordinating logistics with the Coastal Programs Coordinator. We have a list of locations that you can choose from, or you can select your own. Cleanup sites don’t have to be on the beach, and you are welcome to choose a favorite park, trail, street, or other location in need of some TLC.
Support Coastal Cleanup Month
Coastal Cleanup Month is one of the largest cleanup events of the year. The Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) is Humboldt County’s Coastal Cleanup Coordinator and each year we inspire hundreds of volunteers to pick up thousands of pounds of trash around our community. This September, community members will have the opportunity to participate in cleanups every weekend of the month for a chance to win prizes and collect valuable data on local trash patterns. Here at the NEC we work on a shoestring budget and succeed only with determination, devotion, and aid from great volunteers and our community. For 50 years, the NEC has served as a vital hub for information and programs that involve, inform, and inspire residents with regard to environmental issues that matter most on California’s North Coast. Help us at the NEC continue our work by becoming a sponsor for Coastal Cleanup Month 2023!
Citizen Science and Data Collection
Citizen science is a very important part of Coastal Programs at the NEC, and Zero Waste Coastal Cleanup Month is a perfect opportunity to collect data about the trash we see on our streets and beaches. Our Coastal Program’s staff and volunteers track marine and neighborhood debris to find local waste patterns (what kind of trash is being found and where) so we can advocate for waste reduction solutions in our community. See the data collection guide below to find how you can become a citizen scientist and contribute to a world wide marine debris database!
As you are doing your cleanup consider being a trash detective and asking yourself these questions: How did the debris you found make its way to the street? Where is it coming from? What items are you finding most? What is the difference between trash in multiple areas?
Citizen Science Resources:
- Data Collection Tutorial
- NEC’s Trash Data Card
- Marine Debris Identification Guide
- NatGeo MapMaker Interactive
Volunteer Prizes
We are so appreciative of our Coastal Cleanup Month volunteers that we’re offering a chance for participants to win prizes! Every volunteer who signs in at a cleanup will be entered into a weekly raffle where they can win fun prizes. One cleanup = one raffle entry, so if you attend multiple cleanups in one week you can increase your odds of winning! Follow the NEC on Facebook or Instagram to learn about the weekly prizes being offered.
Safety
Masks will not be required at Coastal Cleanup Month cleanups, though our guidance may change depending on COVID-19 infection rates. You can keep up to date by following us on social media or checking this web page. If you are uncomfortable gathering in large groups for your cleanup, we encourage you to participate with your family or friends in your own neighborhood, local park, or trail. Another safety concern this time of year is air quality. If air quality rises above 100 AQI (orange level), we will ask volunteers to stay at home and participate only when it is safe to do so. Cleanup supplies (including medical sharps containers) will be available to check out for free through the NEC’s Lending Library. For more tips on how to conduct a safe and successful cleanup, check out our Safe Cleanups Guide.
Have Questions?
Email our Coastal Programs Coordinator at coastalprograms@yournec.org
