Coastal Cleanup Day

Third Saturday in September

A yearly event for the community to work together to keep Mendocino County creeks, rivers, beaches, and ocean trash-free and safe for people and wildlife.

Mendocino Land Trust has served as the County coordinator for the annual state-wide Coastal Cleanup Day since 2002. Each year, more and more people come together to join in this effort. We now have 17 years of data about our cleanup efforts. During this time, 5,000 volunteers have removed almost 60,000 pounds of trash and 9,000 pounds of recyclables! The Mendocino Land Trust is proud to coordinate sites for Mendocino County and grateful to our partnering organizations and individuals who host cleanup sites year after year.

General Coastal Cleanup Day info from the California Coastal Commission can be found here: coastalcleanupday.org

2022 coastal cleanup day

On September 17, 458 volunteers spent a Saturday morning collecting trash from more than 21 beaches, trails, and watersheds. Thanks to this effort, 6,383 lbs of trash and recycling were diverted from the ocean, keeping it clean for wildlife and humans alike. 

The Mendocino Land Trust would like to thank the good people at Mendo Recycle/Mendocino Solid Waste Authority for financial support and Redwood Waste Solutions for their donation of dumpsters for the event. Thanks also to all the site captains who hosted local cleanups; whether for the first time or the 16th, your efforts make the day extraordinary.

Sound fun? Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 16, 2023. Contact us at info@mendocinolandtrust.org and we’ll put you on the list for next year.

Read more about the day here.

2022 Cleanup Sites on the Mendocino Coast

Seaside Beach Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust

Ten Mile Dunes Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Coast Audobon

MacKerricher Beach at Ward Avenue 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Surfriders

Virgin Creek Beach 9 am – 11 am hosted by North Coast Brewing Company (meet at the brewery at 8:30 am to bike or carpool to the beach!)

Glass Beach Cleanup 9am – 12 pm hosted by City of Fort Bragg

Noyo Headlands Park 9:30 am – 12 pm hosted by Latino Outdoors North Coast Chapter and Blue Zones. Please email Esme at e.plascencia@latinooutdoors.org and let her know if you plan to come. (Group will meet at the entrance of Noyo Headlands Park on West Cypress St.)

Noyo River Boating Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Liquid Fusion Kayaking (We launch from the ramp at Dolphin Isle Marina at 9am. Please call ahead if you would like to rent a kayak)

Hare Creek Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust (RSVPs appreciated by using this form or emailing info@mendocinolandtrust.org – we will meet in the Mendo College Coast Center parking lot)

Jackson State Demonstration Forest Cleanup 10 am – 12 pm near Mitchell Creek Drive organized by Mendocino Trail Stewards (please email mendocinotrailstewards@gmail.com to RSVP and receive more info)

Caspar Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Coastal Mendocino Association of Realtors

Big River Beach 10 am – 12 pm hosted by MendoParks and Mendocino Mermaids

Navarro Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Golden Brands

Noyo Harbor Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by the Noyo Center and  Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund

Point Arena Cove 9 am – 12 pm hosted by City of Point Arena

Cook’s Beach 9 am – 11 am hosted by Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. Please RSVP at rclc.org.

Busy on Saturday? Well, consider helping RCLC at Mill Bend on Friday or LEAG at Van Damme on Monday:

Mill Bend  FRIDAY SEPT 16 9 am – 11 am hosted by Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. Please RSVP at rclc.org

Van Damme Beach 10 am – 11:30 am Monday, September 19 hosted by Little River Environmental Action Group

Big THANKS to school groups planning their own cleanup events in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day! (Participation in these events is limited to those invited by the organizing school group)

  • Fort Bragg Middle School cleans up Pudding Creek Beach
  • Teacher Erin Brazill and TLC students from FBUSD clean up Westport Beaches
  • Pacific Community Charter School take on Moat Creek Beach, the Stornetta Lands and more

Here is a map of ALL Coastal Cleanup Day sites from the California Coastal Commission:

2021 Coastal Cleanup Day: Photos and Info

2021 coastal cleanup day summary

In 2021, there were 35 coastal cleanup sites in Mendocino County. Even though it was pouring rain the day of the event, 287 volunteers removed 3,667 POUNDS of trash/recyclables from Mendocino County beaches, creeks and rivers! If you are interested in participating on the third Saturday in September this year, please email info@mendocinolandtrust.org. We are always looking for new site captains, especially those interested in organizing a cleanup site along a river or creek. The Mendocino Land Trust would like to extend big thanks to MendoRecycle for providing a grant to help cover staff time spent coordinating this event and Waste Management‘s Fort Bragg office for facilitating dumpster donation!

Please enjoy these photos from 2021:

Virgin Creek Beach, photo courtesy of North Coast Brewing Company
MLT's Ed Welter tosses trash bags into a truck at Hare Creek Beach
MLT’s Ed Welter tosses trash bags into a truck at Hare Creek Beach
Liquid Fusion Kayaking volunteers always haul a “boatload” of trash
Photos from 2021 Coastal Cleanup Day

2021 Sites and Partnering Organizations

Busy on Saturday? One group has opted to do their cleanup on Monday… join them then if you would like.

Additionally, big THANKS to school groups planning their own cleanup events in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day! (Participation in these events is limited to those invited by the organizing school group)

  • Fort Bragg Middle School cleans up Pudding Creek Beach
  • Teacher Erin Brazill and TLC students from FBUSD clean up Westport Beaches
  • Pacific Community Charter School take on Moat Creek Beach, the Stornetta Lands and more