Beach cleanups scheduled throughout San Diego County following Fourth of July mess

Beaches and waterways around San Diego County are scheduled for post-holiday trash clean-ups today.

At 8 a.m., volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation will pick up garbage at the Ocean Beach Pier, Belmont Park in Mission Beach, Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach and the Oceanside Harbor beach.

Last year, more than 450 volunteers removed 2,372 pounds of trash and 195 pounds of recycling from four beaches in only two hours, according to the foundation. The trash included 764 plastic bags, 1,163 pieces of Styrofoam and 12,685 cigarette butts.

We've seen a significant decrease in the amount trash collected at our annual 'Morning After Mess' since the drinking ban was put into effect in 2008, but there is still a lot of garbage left behind and we need volunteers to help,'' said Haley Haggerstone of Surfrider.

Bags and gloves will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bag, bucket or gloves to cut down on single-use plastic waste.

Participants under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian to sign for them.

Prizes will be drawn at each location, including tickets to Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band, along with the grand prize of an Iron Cross surfboard from radio station 91X. The first 40 volunteers at each location will get a Surfrider Foundation trucker hat.

A separate cleanup is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the San Elijo Lagoon in the Cardiff-by-the-Sea section of Encinitas, led by The H2O Patrol.