Coastal cleanup on waterfront, September 20

Join fellow Berkeleyans and City staff to clean up the waterfront while participating in a scavenger hunt.

You could walk away with a prize.

A small, wooden treasure chest will be hidden in each of the two cleanup areas. Keep your eyes open while picking up litter. Find the chest, bring it to the check-in table, and swap it for a prize donated by a local merchant.

Or bring back the weirdest item you find to enter our “most unusual item” contest.

In front of the Shorebird Nature Center, there will be games for the whole family. We’ll also have booths with staff and displays explaining how everyday waste affects our water. To capture the moment, stop by our selfie spot to take a photo.

California Coastal Cleanup and similar efforts help protect wildlife habitats and limit trash flowing into the ocean. Support this work year-round by buying fewer single-use items. Clear a storm drain in your neighborhood to reduce the litter that flows out to our waterways.

As an individual or as a group, register online by 5:00 pm Friday, September 19. Or sign up in person on cleanup day by 10:00 am.

Choose where to start your day, collect, then celebrate

If you can, bring your own bucket, gloves, and water bottle. (This reduces waste and conserves supplies, aligning with the day’s mission.) If you are unable, we’ll provide buckets, bags, and gloves.

Then come to one of two locations to start your day:

• Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Avenue
• Brickyard Cove, 598 University Avenue

Track your collected trash and log it on a paper data card or the Clean Swell App on your phone. This will help compile data for one of the largest research efforts in the world.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 9:00 am – 10:30 am: Check in to get supplies, paper data card, and a safety talk. Safety talks will take place every 20 minutes. All participants must fill out a waiver. Youths under 18 will need a waiver signed by their legal guardian.
• 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pick up trash for as long or short as you choose and drop off at one of the multiple points located around the waterfront.
• 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: On the Nature Center lawn, see a watershed model, take a photo, try a recycling game, and color pictures. Hosted by the Nature Center, Earth Team, Ecology Center, and City of Berkeley Public Works-Zero Waste Division.
• 12:00 pm: Return to Shorebird Park or Brickyard Cove staging area by noon to turn in your data card.
• 12:30 pm: Bring the weirdest item you found to the Shorebird Nature Center to enter the “most unusual item” contest.

Call (510) 981-6720 or email questions to naturecenter@berkeleyca.gov.

Plan your transportation to the Waterfront

Please consider taking a car-free route to the waterfront. Ride your bike along the Bay Trail. Alternatively, use Shared Bikes and Scooters, AC Transit, or carpool with friends.

If you drive, parking will be available in the South Cove East (east of Cal Adventures) and the former Hs Lordships lots.

The South Cove West lot behind the sailing area will be closed for construction. Avoid parking in the nearby L and M lots, which require weekend permits.

Free 4-hour day slips are available for boaters visiting the Waterfront. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To check availability, email the Berkeley Marina Office at marina@berkeleyca.gov.

One-day action, daily habits help clean the coast

Berkeley Coastal Cleanup Day is part of a statewide effort to protect and restore beaches, bays, and waterways—before winter rains carry trash out to sea.

In 2024, 46,201 volunteers across California removed nearly 200 tons of trash and recyclables in a single day. Volunteers in Berkeley last year combed three miles of our shoreline to remove 803 pounds of trash and 208 pounds of recyclables.

Over three decades, more than 27 million pounds of debris have been cleared through this annual effort—making it one of the state’s largest volunteer events.

Your actions matter. Most trash collected comes from everyday single-use items like food wrappers and cigarette butts. You can help year-round by joining a Third Saturday Cleanup or adopting a storm drain in your neighborhood to keep it clear of debris.

This event is just one of many that the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department team puts on throughout the year. The Department offers camps, classes, and activities for a variety of age groups and backgrounds. Use our online recreation portal to see all offerings. Check our community calendar to see what’s coming up.

Register yourself or a group and spread the word to others. Help use this Coastal Cleanup Day to protect our waterways.

Links

• Coastal Cleanup 2025
  • Register
  • Event info
  • Clean Swell App
  • California Coastal Commission
• Shorebird Nature Center (City of Berkeley)
• City of Berkeley Volunteer Opportunities; Adopt a Drain