Caltrans is encouraging participation in the 42nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, described as California's largest annual volunteer cleanup effort. Communities statewide will gather to remove litter along beaches, rivers, creeks, bays, and wetlands.

Last year, more than 40,000 volunteers joined hundreds of cleanup events statewide and removed almost 400,000 pounds of trash from California shorelines, lakes, and waterways. Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy noted the cleanups are even more important ahead of strong El Nino storms expected this fall, since removing trash and pollutants now reduces what washes into waterways later.

Volunteers can find and register for a 2026 event using the California Coastal Commission's cleanup map at CoastalCleanupDay.org. The effort is open to all, from veteran cleanup participants to students meeting community service requirements.

Contractors who work near shorelines and waterways may find this a worthwhile way to engage local crews and support cleaner job-site surroundings.