2020 Cleanup 

We are adapting our efforts this year for our annual cleanup. Due to the COVID-19 health orders, we are collaborating with our county partners to make it easy for San Mateo residents to organize their own neighborhood cleanup effort in September. 

We hope that our amazing volunteers will continue to take the initiative for cleaner neighborhoods, beaches, shorelines and boat ramp areas. Click on the two links below to get started with your own cleanup in San Mateo. 

1. Registration
2. Helpful Tips

For 35 years, volunteers from around the Peninsula join San Mateo’s efforts to keep our shorelines free of garbage and recycling that belongs in recycling centers and landfills. Though this year will be different, we thank you for your efforts to keep San Mateo shorelines clean. 

2019 Success Story

What an incredible turnout from the community. Just over 1,000 volunteers showed up to clean our shorelines at Ryder Park on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. To be precise, it was 1,003 volunteers who helped to remove 3,500 pounds of garbage from the natural habitat along San Francisco Bay. Volunteers also removed 20 pounds of recycling, all from about 1.5 miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline. Strangest Find win went to the team who recovered a fully intact kids play kitchen, not to mention a large ottoman and the top of a vacuum cleaner.

2018 Success Story

On Coastal Cleanup Day September 15, 2018, San Mateo volunteers collected 24 cubic yards of trash and debris from approximately 1.5 miles of shoreline, lagoon and creek. Close to 200 pounds of bottles and cans were collected for recycling. An astonishing eight pounds of cigarette butts – which equates to approximately 72,000 butts were also collected.  

All of it was removed from our sensitive shoreline wildlife habitat. 

California Coastal Cleanup

San Mateo’s Bayfront Cleanup is part of the California Coastal Cleanup. Find out more about the dangers of marine debris on its pages.