tcyoung

A Big Win for the Bay Area on Coastal Cleanup Day

Saturday was a big day of trash talking.

This year’s Pollution Prevention Week ended in an epic event that saw hundreds of volunteers show up at Islais Creek for the Battle for the Bay Coastal Cleanup Challenge in San Francisco on Saturday, September 21.

Over 350 volunteers participated in Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 21 at Islais Creek.

The friendly competition between San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo invited Bay Area residents to show up for some trash talking and cleaning by the coastline. A number of City and County of San Francisco agencies participated in the event, including the Mayor’s Office, SF Public Works, SF Fire Department, SF Department of Emergency Management, and more. The SFPUC came ready with volunteers and trash pickers in hand.

Volunteers at Coastal Cleanup Day in 2016.
Pollution Prevention Week serves as a reminder to keep pollutants from entering the City’s sewer system and storm drains, including being mindful of what’s being flushed down the toilet.

Pollution Prevention Week serves as a reminder that some of what goes down the drain ends up in the San Francisco Bay or Pacific Ocean – litter can blight the otherwise beautiful coastline, microplastics bioaccumulate in fish, and pesticides linger in water ready to circle back to the community. As part of its mission to protect public health and the environment, and what enters the sewer system is its responsibility, the SFPUC promoted educational content throughout Pollution Prevention Week and leveraged Coastal Cleanup Day to engage residents to actively be a part of the solution.

As the Battle for the Bay challenge came to an end, it was truly the entire Bay Area who got the win.

Battle for the Bay promotional video courtesy of SFGovTV.