Tidy Seas expands clean up efforts to weekly events along the coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The non-profit group Tidy Seas has seen a growth in volunteers this summer, to the point where it is launching a weekly clean up effort.

While some groups wait until a special event or environmental anniversary, Tidy Seas founder Ryan Wong said he is gathering a beach clean up crew every Wednesday. It's called the Tidy Seas' Summer Clean-Up Series.

He said on Wednesdays, volunteers come together for one hour to clean up the county's beaches and waterways.

The group begins this Wednesday July 17 at East Beach near the volleyball courts starting at 6:30 p.m. for an hour. Each week the location will be on the Tidy Seas web site and social media posts.

For those participating they need: comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor activities, sunscreen, hat, and water bottle, and a positive attitude .

Tidy Sea provides cleaning supplies, including gloves, trash bags, and safety instructions.

At Hendry's Beach in Santa Barbara college student Owen Schott said, "beautiful day at the beach, why not make it a little bit more beautiful. I think its great pick up trash when you see it leave the beach a  better place than you found it."

Wong said, "we've had a lot of support from local and non local who have come out to be part of our cleanups and we've worked with a lot of non profits as well. Tidy has always felt strongly that we need to be out picking up trash a often as possible, so we started a summer clean up series." It will continue into the middle of September.

Often some small pieces of paper or plastics are just below your feet in the sand. Schott said, "if we were to take a sifter today through this sand right here we would find lots of small stuff as well a the big stuff too."

Tidy Seas says it sees common litter and some items that can injure you.

Wong has found "a lot of cups, straws, a lot of cigarette butts, lawn chairs, clothing and also the dangerous side biohazards needles and other drug stuff we have found and got off the beach as well."

Schott also said he has found some sea glass and a few valuables while picking up trash.

Many other groups announce similar clean ups on occasion. One was just coordinated with Explore Ecology one of the leading environmental outreach and education groups in Santa Barbara. County Supervisor Laura Capps was among those to take part.

The weekly group efforts or individuals who are spending their summertime picking up unwanted items at the beach are making a coastal cleanup difference.

For more information go to  https://www.tidyseas.org/upcoming-events.