Coastal Cleanup Day 2025: 31,662 Pounds of Trash Collected

Photo Credit: Orange County Coastkeeper

Coastal Cleanup Day 2025 was a wonderful display of civic engagement!

Every year, Californians from across the state come together for California’s largest volunteer event. These residents attend cleanups in their neighborhoods to remove litter from public spaces like beaches and parks. This prevents harmful waste like plastic bottles, candy wrappers, and cigarettes from flowing directly into our water bodies.

On September 20, over 4,700 residents participated in 35 different cleanup events – both inland and coastal – throughout Orange County!

Thank you to everyone who participated in helping OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean thrive. Let’s dive into our communities’ successes this Coastal Cleanup Day!

Total Impact

We’re proud of all volunteers for showcasing their collective impact this year. 

Across the 35 different OC cleanup events, volunteers removed 31,662 pounds of trash from parks, beaches, and inland waterways. That’s over 15 tons of trash prevented from reaching our water bodies and an increase from 2024’s cleanup effort! Like last year, this rainy season is forecasted to be below average in rainfall. However, trash can still make its way into our water bodies via the storm drain system regardless of how much it rains. That’s why it’s so important to always place trash in closed bins and participate in cleanup events to help keep litter out of our waterways!

Do you know the difference between the storm drain and sewer systems? Let’s talk about their functions, how they differ, and why they’re critical to protect our communities and waterways!

Storm Drain Vs. Sewer System

Differences between the storm drain and sewer systems.

The sewer and storm drain systems both play important roles in keeping  Orange County safe and healthy.

The sewer system is designed to treat indoor wastewater from things like toilets, showers, and sinks. This differs from the storm drain system which is designed to quickly carry untreated rainwater away from our streets, parking lots, and roofs. Its goal is to keep our communities safe from flooding.

Anything that flows into the storm drain system, whether it’s carried by rainwater or caused by overwatering, can go untreated into OC’s water bodies. That’s why placing all trash and recyclables in closed bins is critical to prevent litter from getting into OC’s creeks, rivers, and the ocean. It’s also why community cleanup events like Coastal Cleanup Day play such a big role in keeping our waterways healthy! But your impact doesn’t have to stop there. There are many more ways you can help OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean.

More Ways to Protect Orange County’s Waterways

No matter the time of year, there are always opportunities for you to make an impact and protect our waterways. Here are some ideas to continue your impact beyond Coastal Cleanup Day:

1. Attend other cleanups. Coastal Cleanup Day isn’t the only time we come together to keep trash out of our waterways. Volunteer events like this are happening year-round! To find a cleanup event near you, check out our events calendar here. 
2. Apply for our RainSmart Rebates (currently only available in South Orange County). The RainSmart Rebates Pilot Program offers incentives and assistance to upgrade both residential and large landscapes through the installation of rain containers and rainwater treatment features. Whether you have a residential or large landscape, we are stacking rebates on top of those already offered through the Municipal Water District of Orange County, including substantial additional incentives for landscape features to collect rainwater, manage runoff, and help local waterways flourish.
3. The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly Actions. Pesticides are a common method of keeping pests away; however, they are often toxic to aquatic life and, if improperly applied, can find their way to OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean via the storm drain system. To prevent this, try keeping ants and spiders away by using ant bait stations and reducing clutter in outdoor spaces to make them less inviting to spiders. Learn more here.
4. Install a rain barrel. Collect rainwater from your roof with a rain barrel! This water can then be used for your irrigation needs, helping you save money and water. Diverting runoff in this way also helps prevent untreated water from flowing into the storm drain system. Commit to installing a rain barrel here.
5. Leave no trace. While you’re enjoying OC’s beautiful parks and beaches, take everything you brought with you and place all trash in a closed bin.
6. Pick up after your pets. Place all dog waste in a bag, tie it shut, and dispose of it in a closed bin.

We appreciate all our Orange County residents and businesses!

Orange County’s community members are proud to help our water resources flourish! It’s one of the reasons we had more beaches on the annual Heal The Bay Beach Report Card Honor Roll than any other county in California! Keeping trash out of our waterways and using rainwater as a resource are actions everyone can take year-round. 

We can’t wait for all you watershed protectors to join us at Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 and appreciate everything you do to help keep our waterways healthy.