What Happens at a Beach Cleanup

Your First Beach Cleanup

If you have never been to a beach cleanup before, you might be wondering what to expect. Will it be hard? Do you need special skills? What should you bring? The short answer: it is easy, anyone can do it, and you just need to show up.

Here is a step-by-step guide to what a typical OCINW beach cleanup looks like.

Before You Arrive

What to Bring

• Water bottle — Stay hydrated, especially on sunny SoCal days
• Sunscreen — SPF 30 or higher, even on cloudy days
• Hat and sunglasses — Protect yourself from UV rays
• Comfortable clothes — Ones you do not mind getting sandy or dirty
• Closed-toe shoes — Sneakers or old shoes work great (no flip-flops for safety)
• Reusable gloves — We provide them, but bring your own if you prefer

What We Provide

• Trash bags and recycling bags
• Disposable gloves
• Trash grabber tools
• Data collection sheets
• Snacks and refreshments

During the Cleanup

Check-In (15 minutes)

When you arrive, you will check in at our welcome table. We will give you a brief safety orientation — things like watching for waves, avoiding sharp objects, and what to do if you find something unusual (like a beached animal or hazardous materials).

The Cleanup (60-90 minutes)

You will spread out along the beach in small groups, picking up trash and sorting it into categories. We track every piece of trash we collect — this data helps scientists understand pollution patterns and supports policy changes.

Common items you will find:

• Cigarette butts (by far the most common beach litter)
• Plastic bottle caps
• Food wrappers
• Straws and stirrers
• Fishing line and hooks
• Styrofoam pieces
• Microplastics (tiny fragments in the sand)

Data Collection (15 minutes)

After the cleanup, each group reports what they found. We tally everything up and share the results. This data is submitted to national and international databases that track ocean pollution.

Group Photo and Celebration (15 minutes)

We end every cleanup with a group photo and a chance to connect with other volunteers. It is amazing to see the bags of trash lined up and know that none of it will end up in the ocean.

Why Beach Cleanups Matter

You might wonder: does picking up trash really make a difference? The answer is a definitive yes.

Direct Impact

Every piece of trash you remove is one less piece that could be swallowed by a sea turtle, entangle a seal, or break down into microplastics. A single cleanup can remove hundreds of pounds of debris from the beach.

Data for Change

The data we collect helps researchers and policymakers understand what is polluting our beaches. This information has been used to support bans on plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam in cities across California.

Community Building

Beach cleanups bring people together. They create a sense of shared purpose and help people connect with their local environment. Many of our most dedicated volunteers started with a single cleanup.

Education

There is no better way to understand ocean pollution than to see it firsthand. After a beach cleanup, you will never look at a plastic wrapper the same way again.

Tips for a Great Experience

1. Arrive 10 minutes early for check-in
2. Bring a friend — it is more fun with someone you know
3. Pace yourself — it is not a race, take breaks when you need them
4. Be curious — ask questions about what you find
5. Take photos — document your experience and share it

Ready to Join?

Check our events page for upcoming beach cleanups, or sign up as a volunteer to get notified about all our events. No experience needed — just a willingness to make a difference.