Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – A three-county effort to reduce pollution on Pacific Coast beaches and waterways has been so successful that the Marin County Board of Supervisors has renewed a contract with Leave No Trace, the national organization leading the campaign.
Marin, Sonoma, and southern Mendocino counties border the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries, two of the nation’s most prized ocean jewels with national and international ecological significance. Cross-county Leave No Trace education efforts and waste reduction initiatives support ecosystems and wildlife, which are protected by our local national marine sanctuaries.
The Marin contract, approved on August 19 for a financial commitment of $106,123, enables the nonprofit Leave No Trace to continue working in Marin and collaboratively advancing the partnership that promotes pollution prevention through the Cleaner California Coast initiative. This will be the fourth year of a five-year stewardship action framework that includes bilingual outreach and cross-sector collaboration to keep trash out of oceans, bays, and waterways.
With the North Bay’s renewed alliance for Leave No Trace, all three counties are encouraging volunteers to register for the 41st Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day & Trashure Hunt, scheduled for September 20.
Leave No Trace’s customized topics for the North Bay counties are:
- Know Before You Go (with themes of “bring reusables” and “refuse single-use plastics”)
- Trash Your Trash (with themes of “pack it out” and “proper disposal of fishing line, tackle, and cigarette butts”)
- What to Do With Poop (with themes of “use restrooms, not trails and beaches” and “dispose of diapers and pet waste in available trash cans”
- Be Considerate of Coastal Communities (reduce the trash burden by disposing of waste at home, and use public restrooms to keep water sources clean)
The program has fostered regional coordination focused on consistent messaging for trash reduction, along with collaborative campaigns cofacilitated by municipalities, nonprofits, and other vested stakeholders.
Marin County District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, who represents West Marin, initiated the three-county partnership in spring 2022 to address the growing litter problem along the coast.
“When we launched this collaboration in 2022, our goal was to find a meaningful way to reduce the growing litter problem along our coast,” Rodoni said. “By working together across counties, we are protecting two of the nation’s most treasured marine sanctuaries while ensuring our beaches and waterways remain places of beauty for residents and visitors alike. The renewal of this partnership with Leave No Trace shows our long-term commitment to coastal stewardship and the power of regional collaboration to make a lasting difference.”
Millions of people visit the Pacific coastal areas in those three counties each year. With the abundance of beauty not far away, many Northern California residents decide to remain close to home for recreation and spend time at destinations such as the Point Reyes National Seashore in West Marin. Mix that with national and international visitors, and the result is a lot of litter. More than 55,000 pounds of trash were picked up from the sensitive coastal environments across the three counties last year alone.
The Cleaner California Coast initiative messaging has reached over 27 million people across the greater Bay Area through combined outreach efforts, including more than 100,000 organic social media engagements that amplified coastal stewardship messages beyond county lines. Over the past year, Cleaner California Coast has participated in over 45 partner events, offering educational materials, access to Leave No Trace trainings and resources, eco-sorting stations aligned with waste hauler signage to promote proper waste sorting, and reusable dishware to reduce single-use waste.
The Cleaner California Coast team also includes college and high school student interns who gain firsthand experience working within a grassroots initiative, with opportunities to contribute to outreach, engagement, and operations while strengthening community connections. Through digital platforms, they’ve also promoted over 500 local events, supporting partners, and boosting participation in efforts to protect and celebrate California’s coast.
“Interning with CCC reignited my passion for environmental work and reminded me that progress starts with small, practical changes in our daily lives, creating space for collective impact,” said Kaila Espiritu, the Spring 2025 Cleaner California Coast student intern from University of Southern California.
Upcoming Events
The 41st Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day & Trashure Hunt is set for Saturday, September 20, from 9 AM to noon. Volunteers will help remove litter from coastal and inland sites to protect marine life and water quality, with special Trashure Hunt items hidden within each county.
- Register to help in Marin County
- Register to help in Sonoma County
- Register to help in Mendocino County
Check out the Cleaner California Coast calendar for more information and local events.