Volunteers clean up beaches after Fourth of July

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — More than 3,900 pounds of trash was collected for nine San Diego County beaches Friday in an effort to clean the ‘”Morning After Mess’” left behind after the Fourth of July holiday.

The Surfrider Foundation organized the cleanup, receiving assistance from 688 volunteers and from other organizations including Un Mar De Colores, Paddle for Peace, San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love A Clean San Diego.

At Fiesta Island, more than 1,300 pounds of trash was collected.

“In Oceanside, we found thousands of these plastic red, white, and blue confetti all around the jetty. It’s sad to see that,” said Gabriel Racca with the Surfrider Foundation. He coordinated this year’s beach cleanup.

Cigarettes and plastics are the top two pieces of debris found every year.
“Small pieces of foam, plastics in general,” he said. “They don’t break down and they keep breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces.”

Few holidays generate more trash than July 4. The “Morning After Mess” shows the impact that persistence and clean ups have on the environment.

“More than anything, we hope our beach cleanups inspire San Diegans to continue down the path of coastal stewardship,” Racca said.

The sites were selected based on the high concentration of beachgoers and their reputations for post-Fourth of July trash.

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