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Beaches trashed after July 4th crowds depart

July 6, 2023

Whoops, a few people forgot to pack up their massive pop tents. And another person left behind a big barbeque on the beach.

Revelers who packed the coast on the Fourth of July also left behind countless pieces of plastics and trash littering beaches across Southern California.

Volunteers on July 5 — considered the dirtiest beach day of the year — set out armed with bags and gloves at Venice Beach, San Pedro, Huntington Beach and Doheny State Beach in an attempt to put a dent in the debris left by the hundreds of thousands of partiers who showed up throughout the holiday weekend. More clean-ups this weekend will be held to scoop up what’s still left behind.

Surfrider Foundation held cleanups from San Diego to San Francisco and beaches in between. In Huntington Beach, hundreds of people showed up ready to work, helping the State Parks clean-up crew who started gathering trash early in the morning.

“It was a mess,” said KC Fockler, education coordinator for the North Orange County chapter. “It’s almost heart-wrenching.”

There were beer and soda cans, chip bags, fireworks and plenty of plastics. One surprise was the number of plastic bottles on the beach, which in recent years hasn’t been seen as much, he said.

Plucking trash off the beach is important, not just so the region’s pristine beaches don’t look like a dump but also to protect the wildlife that call the coast home.

“The beach is the last defense from all the trash before it hits the ocean,” he said. “It affects the environment not only in the ocean, all the birds, the nesting birds … even little kids, crawling around in the sand, picking up other people’s garbage and trash. It’s a shame it ends up like that.”

Stacey Colburn carries trash, hula hoops and a chair that she found during a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The annual event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Penny Lewis dumps trash she found during a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The annual event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

More than 300 volunteers signed up for a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The annual event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Trash lies in the surf line at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. More than 300 people had registered to pick up trash at the beach following the July 4th holiday. The event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ross Anderson picks up trash during a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The annual event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Beach gear from the July 4th holiday is draped over signs at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. More than 300 people had signed up pick up trash at the beach following the July 4th holiday. The event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tyler Riddle pulls the trash and body boards he found during a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The annual event was sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation of North Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The North OC Surfrider chapter in the past six months has removed 20,000 pounds of trash. Fockler said an estimated 1,200 pounds were scooped up on July 5.

“It’s important we have clean beaches for everybody to enjoy,” he said.

Richard Busch, North OC chapter co-chair, said it was “plastic galore” out on the beach. But he was encouraged by the number of people who mobilized to help.

“It tells me people genuinely care and want to make sure the beaches are clean and enjoyable for people,” he said. “They don’t want the beaches to be trashed.”

That’s exactly why Brooke and Jake Caouette brought their three young kids to Doheny State Beach on July 5, armed with a bucket, trash pickers and metal detectors.

They rode their bikes down on the Fourth of July and saw the hoards of people, knowing their favorite beach would be trashed the following day.

“It’s just the dirtiest day,” Brooke Caouette said. “We usually try to come down after storms and big holidays.”

Among the debris was a lot of plastics like little straw wrappers from juice boxes and utensils.

“A lot of people come from far and set up their picnics and just leave at the end of the night when it’s dark and they can’t see what they left behind,” she said.

For those who want to help, it’s not too late. There are upcoming clean-ups scheduled for this weekend.

Orange County Coastkeeper will host volunteers on July 8 for a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach.

Coastkeeper staff predicts over 300 pounds will be removed from the beach during the two-hour event that kicks off at 9 a.m. at Huntington State Beach. Meet at tower 9.

Stand Up to Trash will be hosting a beach clean-up starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 9, in the Dana Point Harbor. Meet near the Ocean Institute for the “Plastic Free July” event, with a guest speaker at 10:30 a.m. from Eco Now Refill Store in Laguna Beach.

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Orange County Register

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Beaches trashed after July 4th crowds depart

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