The beaches of the Central Coast have had a successful cleaning session. This year’s Coastal Clean Up Day was held on Sept. 25 and had more than 1,073 volunteers at 28 cites along the Santa Barbara County coastline, according to event officials.
More than 2,887 pounds of trash and 1,104 pounds of recyclables were retrieved during the clean up, including some strange items: there was a 140-pound car axel, two pregnancy tests, a buried raft, and a wooden “vampire stake.” (Since vampires turn to dust when slain, who knows, maybe there was a vampire present on the beach.)
To combat waste that is generated while collecting waste, most of the volunteers brought along their own buckets, sanitary gloves, and bags. This part of the clean up saved about 500 bags, according to a press release from the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department.
“It is amazing the stuff people bring to the beach these days,” said Jeff Simeon, the county’s clean up coordinator, in the press release. “Last year we collected over 9,900 cigarette butts, 2,500 food wrappers, and 1,500 bottle caps.”
The local clean up was part of the larger California Cleanup Day, which is presented by the California Coastal Commission; and the Coastal Cleanup Day, spearheaded by the Ocean Conservancy.
Intern Henry Houston compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 7, 2010.