Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 Santa Barbara County
About this Event
Isn’t it time to show your favorite beach, park, or creek some love? Join Explore Ecology for Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 19th!
The largest single volunteer event on earth, Coastal Cleanup Day is a day to give back to the ocean, beaches, parks, and creeks that make Santa Barbara County such a wonderful place to live. Get outside, enjoy nature, and remove marine debris from our beaches and waterways.
This year is the 42nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day! Volunteers of all ages can participate at any of the 2026 cleanup sites. Pre-registration is not required but encouraged.
Each site will have a captain on hand to provide instructions and supplies. Please bring your own gloves, buckets, and other reusable cleanup supplies to lessen the plastic footprint of this event. If you don’t have any, we will have plenty.
Everyone who participates in the cleanup is required to fill out a waiver. This can be done on the day of the event, or by downloading a waiver and bringing it with you.
Waivers coming soon!
If you can’t make the cleanup on the 19th, we encourage you to clean up any time during the month of September. When you record your data using the Clean Swell app, what you find will be included in the Coastal Cleanup Day results! Make sure to allow location services and add Explore Ecology as your group name.
Coastal Cleanup Day is brought to you by Explore Ecology and our partner the County of Santa Barbara Resource Recovery and Waste Management, with support from the Cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Solvang. The California Coastal Commission organizes the statewide event and the international event is organized by the Ocean Conservancy.
Visit Explore Ecology's website for more information at ExploreEcology/Coastal-Cleanup-Day.org
FAQs
Are there minimum age requirements to participate?
Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have a waiver signed by an adult. If an adult is not coming with you, please have a parent or guardian sign the form in advance and bring it with you. (You can download waivers on our website: Coming Soon!)
Visit Explore Ecology's website for more information at ExploreEcology/Coastal-Cleanup-Day.org Or email CoastalCleanupDay (at) ExploreEcology.org.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
You don't have to bring your ticket. Your registration helps us keep track of how many people are attending cleanups at each site.
Where should I park?
Parking varies by location. Please check each site for specifics.
Can I sign up a group?
Yes, please! Coastal Cleanup Day is a great volunteer opportunity for groups.
Can I go by myself?
Yes, please join us!
What should I bring?
Cleanup supplies will be provided. Explore Ecology is encouraging volunteers to BYO - bring your own reusable gloves, bags or buckets, and water bottles to reduce waste and decrease the plastic footprint of the cleanup. Read more about the statewide effort to reduce waste on the Coastal Commission’s website.
We recommend wearing closed toed shoes and comfortable clothing. We also encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle, wear sunscreen, and other sun protection like hats or sunglasses.
Can I receive community service hours?
Of course! Please bring your forms and have your Site Captain sign them after the cleanup so you can get your hours.
Is registration required?
Registration is not required, but is strongly encouraged. Your registration helps us keep track of how many attendees each site receives and adds you to our email list so you receive updates about Coastal Cleanup Day and our other cleanups.
Can I be a Site Captain?
Coastal Cleanup Day is possible because of our dedicated Site Captains. If you or your organization is interested, please contact Explore Ecology at: CoastalCleanupDay (at) ExploreEcology.org or call (805)884-0459 x16. The site you request may already have a captain, but we will do our best to accomodate you.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
