Our Annual Cleanup

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. 

2020 Event Date 

In 2020, our annual cleanup event is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2020. Expect to hear more about sign-ups and volunteering for one of our most popular summer events as we get closer. 

Bookmark this page for updates.

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.