A Cleaner California Starts with Us
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Refuse Refuse partners with the Caltrans Stormwater Program to lead a local cleanup event at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Sept. 20 in celebration of the 41st Annual Coastal Cleanup Day.
This past weekend at Ocean Beach, I witnessed something remarkable: more than 350 San Franciscans of all ages, from students to families, neighbors, and local businesses, came together to roll up their sleeves and get to work, picking up more than 3,000 pounds of trash in just 90 minutes. This massive clean-up event was part of the 41st Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, a statewide effort to remove thousands of pounds of litter from California’s beaches and riverways before it pollutes our water.
The success of Saturday’s clean-up event is a clear reminder that significant change that makes our community cleaner and healthier for all is possible through our collective efforts. While we made a huge impact, one big cleanup once a year is not enough. If we want to keep our neighborhoods, parks, rivers and beaches clean year-round, consistent action and community support is needed.
At Refuse Refuse San Francisco, we’ve organized nearly 5,000 cleanups and removed over a million gallons of trash from across the city since we started four years ago. We know that people want to help and that each cleanup is a step towards a cleaner, more beautiful community. We also know that even more can be done if people are given just a few more tools, opportunities, and encouragement. That is why we are proud to partner with the Caltrans Stormwater Program on cleaning up California communities and encouraging other communities to act as well.
If Saturday’s turnout tells us anything, it’s that Californians can make a difference. Here’s how you can help:
Show up. Join an upcoming cleanup in your neighborhood. They’re simple, easy-to-join, and immediately impactful.
Do the little things. Pick up trash when you see it and dispose of it properly. Normalize caring for our shared spaces. Make these little actions a habit and encourage others to do the same.
Visit CleanWaterCA.com. Picking up after your pets, tuning your car, securing your load, or simply taking your car in to get cleaned—learn more about the small (and big) actions you can take to reduce waste and prevent stormwater pollution.
The reality is, every cigarette butt, food wrapper and bag picked up is more than just trash removed, it’s a statement that we care about our community. We are doing more than just beautifying our communities, we are preventing pollutants from entering our storm drains, protecting our lakes, rivers and ocean and keeping them clean and safe. And that’s a powerful message that can inspire others to also do the same.
I left Ocean Beach on Saturday with a renewed sense of optimism. Yes, the challenges are big, but so are our successes when we come together as a community. If we want cleaner, safer, healthier communities, the answer is clear: refuse to accept refuse.
About Vince Yuen
Vince Yuen is a regular Californian who cares about creating a clean environment for future generations. He started out by cleaning his block with his two daughters. Through these local clean-up efforts, he discovered others who felt the same way and were already picking up trash. Word spread to neighbors from all over the city. They came together and joined the Refuse Refuse movement to keep their city clean. Yuen discovered that caring for San Francisco was one of his greatest passions. He established Refuse Refuse in March 2021 and has organized nearly 5,000 community cleanups. Through a collective community-driven effort of 10,000 volunteers, Refuse Refuse has collected 1,000,000+ gallons of litter. Learn more about Vince Yuen and his work at Refuse Refuse by visiting www.refuserefusesf.org.