Countywide : Volunteers to Help Tidy Up the Beaches

More than 5,000 people are expected to pitch in Saturday to clean Orange County’s beaches as part of the state’s Coastal Cleanup Day.

“We get everything from engine blocks, shopping carts, violins and baby strollers, to refrigerators and sofas,” said Nancy Bruland, a county park ranger in charge of the cleanup at Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach.

Last year, volunteers picked up more than 50 tons of trash and recyclables.

This year, more than 5,200 volunteers are expected at 21 county sites, according to Mark Patrick, cleanup coordinator for the county harbors, beaches and parks division.

Bruland said she is expecting 1,700 volunteers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers should meet at the Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Backbay Drive, in Newport Beach. From there, they will be shuttled to five sites on the back bay’s 1,000 acres.

In Huntington Beach, volunteers are encouraged to meet at 8:30 a.m. at the north side of the city pier, where free parking will be available. The beach will be cleaned from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Volunteers will be eligible for a $450 raffle, and chances to win tickets to see the Mighty Ducks hockey team, stuffed animals and other gifts.

Three hundred volunteers are needed to help clean up the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve from 9 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers are encouraged to park at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway and across from the main entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. If the lots are full, volunteers may park free at Bolsa Chica State Beach and take a shuttle to the wetlands.

Last year, more than 41,000 volunteers statewide collected 280 tons of trash.

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Where the Action Is

Saturday’s 11th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day will include several sites in Orange County. Trash bags will be provided. Volunteers should bring their own gloves, sunscreen and drinking water. Meeting places:

* San Onofre State Beach

Where: Parking lot next to Carl’s Jr., off Cristianitos Road and Interstate 5

When: 9 a.m.

* San Clemente State Beach

Where: Day-use parking lot above Calafia Beach

When: 9 a.m.

* San Clemente City Beach

Where: Municipal pier

When: 9 a.m.

* Dana Point Harbor

Where: Orange County Marine Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor

When: 9 a.m.

* Salt Creek State Beach

Where: Main beach

When: 8:30 a.m.

* Laguna Beach

Where: Basketball courts at main beach

When: 8 a.m.

* Crystal Cove State Park

Where: Reef Point

When: 9 a.m.

* Newport Pier/Upper Newport Bay

Where: Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Backbay Drive

When: 9 a.m.

* Newport Beach

Where: Lifeguard headquarters at Balboa Pier

When: 9 a.m.

* Corona del Mar State Beach

Where: Main parking lot

When: 9 a.m.

* Huntington State Beach

Where: Lifeguard headquarters, Magnolia Street and Pacific Coast Highway

When: 8 a.m.

* Huntington City Beach

Where: North side of pier, Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway

When: 8:30 a.m.

* Bolsa Chica State Beach

Where: Parking lot at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway

When: 8 a.m.

* Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Where: Parking lot at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway

When: 9 a.m.

* Sunset Beach

Where: Parking lot at Warner and Pacific avenues; Pacific Avenue and Broadway

When: 8:30 a.m.

* Seal Beach

Where: Main beach at lifeguard headquarters

When: 9 a.m.

The Trash Haul

5,288 volunteers picked up more than 100,000 pounds of debris from Orange County beaches last year. More than half of the trash collected was recycled. Top types of trash collected:

DEBRIS / PIECES COLLECTED

Foamed plastic: 8,291

Cigarette butts: 7,532

Plastic foam cups: 3,357

Misc. plastic: 2,679

Paper: 2,407

Source: California Coastal Commission