LOS ANGELES, CA – Ocean Conservancy is preparing to host hundreds of Los Angeles area residents and volunteers at its flagship west coast International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC) event in Venice Beach on Saturday, September 23 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Known in California as California Coastal Cleanup Day, the International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest beach and waterway cleanup effort, mobilizing more than 17 million volunteers to remove over 350 million pounds of trash worldwide since 1986.

In 2022 alone, nearly 40,000 volunteers across California participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, collecting over 537,000 individual pieces of trash for a total of 329,000 pounds.

This cleanup follows an exciting conservation victory in the California legislature with the passing of Assembly Bill 1628 on Thursday, September 13. Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and 5 Gyres Institute co-sponsored the bill. The bill is now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature. Once signed into law, AB 1628 will prevent microfiber pollution – the most common type of microplastic in environmental samples – by requiring that all new washing machines sold into California by 2029 have a microfiber filter. These filters have been shown to be a cost-effective solution that can capture up to 90% of microfibers from each load of laundry. Each year, it is estimated that up to 4.85 million pounds of microfibers enter California’s lands and waters each year from washing machines. Microfibers have also been found to represent over 90% of all microplastics taken in by marine wildlife in some studies. The cleanup will take place in the home district of Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D – Inglewood), the author of AB 1628.

Ocean Conservancy plastics pollution expert Dr. Anja Brandon, a key drafter of the above bill, will be in attendance and available for interviews about the harmful impacts of microplastics in our ocean and how Ocean Conservancy is working to protect California’s natural environment.

If you are interested in covering the cleanup, please contact Sheila Hernandez at 206-948-7874.

NOTE: Volunteers can register on Eventbrite. Cleanup supplies, t-shirts, light breakfast snacks, water and giveaways will be provided for volunteers.

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About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.