The Port of San Diego and San Diego Working Waterfront will host the 35th annual Operation Clean Sweep on Aug. 23 at locations around San Diego Bay.
The event focuses on removing trash and debris from the bay and waterfront. Volunteer divers, boaters and walkers are needed at public and private cleanup sites, including Barrio Logan, Chula Vista, Coronado, the Embarcadero, Harbor Island, Imperial Beach, National City, Seaport Village and Shelter Island.
A mini–Operation Clean Sweep took place on Aug. 10 along the Embarcadero on the south side of B Street Pier. The cleanup included cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle, which visited the Port of San Diego for the first time in 17 years.
“The Port of San Diego is proud to support Operation Clean Sweep, and we are grateful to all our partners, sponsors and volunteers for helping clean up San Diego Bay and the surrounding waterfront,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
More than 1,000 volunteers are expected this year. Cleanup materials will be provided, and youth and members of the military can earn eight hours of community service. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and may attend an after-party at Shelter Island Shoreline Park, which will feature food, music, a contest for the most unique trash found, a soccer game with San Diego FC and an opportunity drawing for gift cards from waterfront businesses. Youth volunteers will receive prizes.
“For 35 years, the San Diego Working Waterfront has organized this community event for our five Port cities, and every year, we are grateful to all our waterfront workers and the public who spend a Saturday helping make their neighborhoods look great,” said Sharon Cloward, president of the San Diego Working Waterfront.
Operation Clean Sweep is organized by the San Diego Working Waterfront and sponsored by the Port of San Diego, Republic Services, EDCO, Lokket, Bartell Hotels, General Dynamics NASSCO, Austal USA, R.E. Staite and Continental Maritime of San Diego. More than 50 Port tenants and partners support the event each year.
Volunteers can learn more and register at sdworkingwaterfront. com/events/operation-clean-sweep.
