Cleanups To Date

Join Pitch In, Waste Free Santa Cruz and others...
Take the Plastic Free July Pledge

Start by bringing your own cup! Avoid Plastic Bottles, Stop using plastic food wrap.

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Mark your Calendar for May 9th, 2026 for the Third Annual Pitch In All County Cleanup Day. Working together We Can Make Santa Cruz the Cleanest County in the State.

Opportunities to participate will be updated here on a regular basis.

Upcoming Cleanups

  • “Dirtiest Beach Day” — July 5th Cleanup
    The day after the Fourth of July has earned the nickname “the dirtiest beach day of the year”. Join Surfrider Volunteers!
    • Date: Saturday, July 5th
    • Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
    • Location: Main Beach (near the volleyball courts)
    • Click here to sign up now
  • Join Save Our Shores cleanups
    • Holiday Cleanup @ Cowell & Main Beach (July 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Cowell Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
    • Holiday Cleanup @ Corcoran Lagoon Beach (July 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Corcoran Lagoon Beach 20th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the end of 20th Ave near the top of the stairs to the beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms available, and no drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly. Please note this location is not wheelchair accessible, there are stairs and large rocks down to the beach.
  • Join Coastal Watershed Council!
    • River Health Day (July 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
      Generally, we will meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Sometimes we will meet near Mike Fox Skate Park. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street. Please RSVP below to receive up-to-date location information. Call (831) 464 9200 x104, or email CWC River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy with any questions before the event. RSVP for this and other River Health Day events!
    • San Lorenzo Park Neighbors (September 13 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm)
      Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in!
      Join the San Lorenzo Park Neighbors and the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department for a morning of volunteer service to beautify San Lorenzo Park, followed by a concert! Make a difference by picking up trash in the park, and help with special projects that may include painting, sanding benches, planting, weeding, raking, and or pruning. Tools will be provided for volunteers, as well as water and coffee. Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in! Email us with questions at sanlorenzoparkneighbors@gmail.com.
  • Join Grant Park Neighbors for community cleanups and fun!
    • Saturday, August 23, 2025
    • Saturday, September 20, 2025
    • Saturday, October 11, 2025
    • For more information, please visit grantparkneighbors.org

Cleanups Accomplished

Interlaken Cleanup

January 28, 2023

The blue skies and nearly balmy weather on Saturday, January 28th 2023 defied our recent memory of atmospheric rivers and deluges of rain. Many areas in Santa Cruz county were devastated by the dramatic weather, waves, and flooding. The Interlaken Region of South Santa Cruz County was one such area, with homes and agricultural fields overtaken by flooding and debris.

A community clean-up was organized by Ramon Gomez, Chief of Staff of County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez (4th District) and sponsored by The Trash Talkers, County of Santa Cruz, and Watsonville Wetland’s Watch. Engaging nearly one hundred volunteers, most of whom were youth members from the Watsonville Church of the Latter Day Saints, participants worked tirelessly to assist in restoring the neighborhood.

With broad smiles and positive attitudes volunteers put on their gloves and got to work. Working in teams, volunteers removed sand bags, and plastic from homes and driveways for pick up by members of County of Santa Cruz Public Works who contributed their time on a Saturday. Going door to door FEMA flyers were handed out and homeowners were given assistance from helping remove flood damaged appliances and carpet, to replacing furniture.

A special thank you to Matt Hackwell, Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of the Santa Cruz county area, Karen Faurot, Rosa Meyer, and Cynthia Simunovich for their inspirational leadership and support of the volunteers.

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Volunteers carry sandbags to the street for Public Works pick up.
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“It was a positive and gratifying experience to help elderly folks who had no one to assist them,” said one volunteer.
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Everyone pitched in ~ Community volunteers, Santa Cruz County Public Works and our Sheriff Nick Solano!
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January 28th Interlaken Clean-up Volunteers.
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