International Coastal Clean Up Day - September 19

The yearly international Coastal Cleanup day is coming up next weekend, September 19 at a variety of locations. Los Angeles area locations can be found on the Heal the Bay website. Despite the name, coastal cleanup day does not just focus on coastal areas, but also more inland areas that eventually drain to the oceans. There might be an event near you! Some people like to go as an excuse to get to the beach, others prefer to focus cleaning their neighborhood. Either way, your efforts and time are appreciated and it gives you a chance to contribute to your community, better understand your community and spend time with likeminded individuals.

Some tips for clean-up events:


Don't waste!
The goal of any cleanup event is to remove trash from places where it shouldn't be. One of the rubs with sponsored clean-up events is that they can generate a decent amount of trash on their own with snacks, single use water bottles and disposable gloves being handed out, but there are some things you can do to help curb that waste
-Recycling or trash? At some events the organizers ask that you sort out recycling and trash. Others just give you trash bags and send you on your merry way. Make sure you know which approach is being used and which items can be recycled.
-Bring your own reusable water bottle. Some events only hand out water in single use bottles. If so, you'll at least prevent one new bottle from being opened by coming prepared. If you do drink any of the single use bottled beverages, make sure they end up in the recycle bin. Some event planners will bring a larger container of water for people to refill their bottles with. Either way, I'd recommend writing to the people sponsoring your event once it is over and let them know you would prefer a less wasteful water source next time or let them know you appreciate their actions to reduce the amount of waste by not handing out single use water bottles.
-Bring your own gloves. At every clean-up event I've attended, disposable gloves were provided, but they're less than ideal. I've managed to rip every disposable glove I've used at these events. Sometimes the sponsors are running short on materials and you might just get one glove. To avoid the Michael Jackson look, potential exposure to dirt and generating more waste, I'd recommend rummaging though your garage and bringing your own work or gardening gloves. Leather gloves work well, but there are also cotton coated with rubber, polyester and other durable vegan materials available. This is definitely an investment worth making if you plan on making clean-up events a more regular part of your life.
-Think about transportation. If you live next to the beach and can walk or bike to a clean-up event, by all means, use your legs. Just be aware that you might be a little more tired after cleaning for 3 hours than when you started out. If public transportation is available, it's a good option. If you must drive, see if you can carpool. It makes the event more fun, cuts down on parking issues and gives you a good excuse to invite friends along.

Safety!
As always, be aware of where you are and what the hazards are in your area. If you have children with you, be sure to talk with them about what to do if they find a dead animal, broken glass, syringes and other questionable items they might encounter.
-Sun. Remember you might be outside for hours doing manual labor. It can get rather hot. Make sure to bring along sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Also, don't skimp on the water. Just because a sponsor only brought water in single use bottles and you already drank up your reusable bottle reserve, that's no excuse to put your body in danger. Take breaks if necessary, make sure to keep on drinking water during the cleanup and once it's over.
-Don't throw away batteries! Most people don't know that it's actually illegal to throw batteries away in California. They are filled with all sorts of somewhat toxic metals. If you find a battery, locate a bag (this is usually way easier than one would hope) or other item to place it in. If they are leaking, be very careful to not touch them with your bare hands. Wrap up all the batteries and once your clean-up event is complete, drop them off with your household battery recycling. It's also worth talking to your event organizers and asking them if they collect them and if they don't, if they could consider doing so in the future.
-Tetanus!If you plan on making a habit of cleanup events, it's worth making sure you are up to date with your tetanus shot. You need to get a booster at least every 10 years to prevent getting tetanus (lock jaw). Your health care provider should be able to tell you when you got your last booster.

Clean up events can be a fun way to spend time together and give back to your community. They can be giant organized events or just you, wandering in your neighborhood, cleaning it up a little. Either way, you can feel good knowing you helped make things better and it gives you a new perspective on the places we stay and our place and impact in our communities.