What to Know42nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup DaySaturday, Sept. 199 a.m. to noonLearn more at this site; locations and information about what tools or gear to bring to your chosen clean-up spot and what might be provided are also listed herePresented by the California Coastal CommissionSome cleanup events require advance registration; learn more on the site about your chosen spot and what you need to do ahead of time

Find some trusty work gloves, a big bag or two, a picker-upper or a favorite grabber, and plenty of give-back gumption, then sign up for one of the Golden State’s biggest volunteer efforts.

California Coastal Cleanup Day is a large-scale push that arrives near the end of summertime, which makes beautiful sense; the beaches, lake shores, and riverbanks are well-loved and lavishly enjoyed by visitors throughout the summer.

Many of those visitors leave behind mementoes that should have been promptly thrown away, recycled, or packed and carried home, including bottles, cans, and the occasional surprising bits of debris, from random shoes to sunglasses.

Gathering much of that summer clutter away is possible, thanks to this hugely attended volunteer day, which is set for Saturday, Sept. 19.

You’ve got time to peruse the locations, and sign up if pre-registration is required, and discover what sort of tools or gear you need to arrive with as well as what might be provided.

There are dozens of locations on the 2026 map, all along the coast and at several inland spots, too.

Many Los Angeles beaches will find volunteers out in inspiring force, including Santa Monica State Beach, Dockweiler State Beach, and just a pinch east of the ocean, Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

If you head further inland from the coast, you’ll find more cleanup meet-ups, with the Ballona Creek Bike Path, the Tujunga Wash Greenway, and Duck Pond Park in the Simi Valley.

It’s the 42nd annual event, which is presented by the California Coastal Commission.

The commission shared that over 50,000 volunteers are expected to join in 2026, and that the upcoming event is more urgent than ever with the coming El Niño storms that are predicted to dramatically roll in this winter.

The cold-weather rains “… can flush trash and other debris through rivers, creeks, and channels from inland areas across hundreds of miles of oceans,” states a note on the commission’s web site.

Collecting trash helps the environment, critter, and communities around these waterways and the beaches; it’s a gift to the future from every volunteer who participates.

While the beaches remain a prominent focus of California Coastal Cleanup Day, there is an event in every California county, including those located hours from the ocean.

“As we celebrate the 50th year of the Coastal Act, Coastal Cleanup Day serves as an important reminder that we all need to show up to protect our coast,” said Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge.

“Year after year, Californians demonstrate their commitment to a clean and healthy coast and ocean, proving that Californians will take action to save our state’s iconic shoreline.”

The Coastal Act is a “… visionary law that set the standard for coastal resource protection,” the commission shared.