Annual 'Creek to Bay' Cleanup to Beautify a Record 110 Sites

From I Love A Clean San Diego:

Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon, 6,000 volunteers will participate at I Love A Clean San Diego’s (ILACSD) 14th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup happening at a record 110 sites. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for a site in their neighborhood to contribute to the health and beauty of the whole region. Volunteers of all ages and ability levels are welcome to participate. Those interested in participating can register for a site of their choice through the Creek to Bay website.

ILACSD set a new record in 2015 by hosting more than 100 sites where 5,500 volunteers removed 187,000 pounds of debris. This year, the organization looks to break yet another record by hosting 110 cleanups and beautification projects countywide! Beautification projects will include volunteers replacing harmful invasive plants with native species and painting over graffiti to restore San Diego’s outdoor spaces.

ILACSD continues to turn its attention to inland communities to stop marine debris at the source. Approximately 77 percent of the cleanup sites will be found east of San Diego’s beloved coastline. San Diego residents are encouraged to volunteer at their neighborhood creek, canyon or park to prevent debris from ever reaching their favorite beach.

ILACSD invites volunteers to take waste reduction into their own hands by taking the Bring Your Own Reusables pledge when they register at CreekToBay.org. Choosing reusable water bottles, work gloves, and buckets to collect litter significantly reduces the need for single-use bags and disposable gloves. As an incentive, prizes will be awarded to the best decorated buckets entered into this year’s Bling Your Bucket competition.

Sony Electronics has returned to sponsor this year’s Creek to Bay Photo Contest, where volunteers have the opportunity win a new Cyber-Shot Camera. Volunteers are encouraged to submit a photo of their Creek to Bay Cleanup experience that best fits the theme, "Keeping San Diego Clean, Together." Photos for the Bling your Bucket and Sony Photo Contest may be submitted to iloveacleansd@gmail.com.

The event’s top-tier sponsors include the City of San Diego - Think Blue, the County of San Diego and Walmart, with significant waste hauling support provided by Republic Services. ILACSD’s Creek to Bay Cleanup is part of The Great American Cleanup that is coordinated nationwide by Keep America Beautiful.