Earth Day & EcoFest 2019 Press Release

SF BAY AREA’S LARGEST EARTH DAY CLEANUP AND CELEBRATION:

April 2019 – Pacifica, CA – On April 27th, the Pacific Beach Coalition (PBC), in partnership with the City of Pacifica and its residents, will be hosting its 15th Annual Earth Day Celebration, the largest Earth Day cleanup in the entire Bay Area. From 9:00am to 11:00am, with the help of over 7,500 volunteers and 150 community groups, the organization will be cleaning up areas all along the San Mateo Coast including beaches, streets, lots, and parks. Following the cleanup, the public is invited to attend the EcoFest, a large celebration and educational event in honor of Earth Day held at Linda Mar State Beach (So. Lot) in Pacifica from 11:00am to 2:30pm. Join us as “We All Need A Little Kelp!” In 2018 Pacifica picked up 188,000 cigarette butts; 14,873 of them were from last Earth Day alone! 

This year Kelp is the Earth Day honoree and the topic of focus. By joining forces to reduce the amount of litter that gets into their ocean environment, we create the healthy waters we want to see up and down the coast and around the Greater Bay Area. Earth Day is an annual coast-wide day of action dedicated to cleaning up litter both on the shores and in the surrounding area, restoring the native habitat, and building community among the volunteers. The PBC has seen its Earth Day efforts expand to San Gregorio, Pillar Point, Montara, and Gray Whale Cove in the South up to Fort Funston in the North as well as all of the City of Pacifica from Highway 35 to the coast. Since 2005, the PBC’s Earth Day efforts have contributed to the removal of over 130,000 pounds of waste and well over a million cigarette butts from entering the ocean. When you consider the concentration of toxic chemicals found in a single cigarette butt you can start to understand the level of impact that coordinated effort by volunteers at events like this brings. “Litter is a global problem impacting our community,” says Lynn Adams, president of the PBC. “It’s finding its way into the ocean, which greatly impacts kelp, sea stars, dolphins, sea otters, shorebirds, marine life, and the health of our ocean. The Pacific Beach Coalition  will support any coastal site with a leader and volunteers. Everywhere could use a little help. It is fun to get together with friends, teams, or family to make a difference so helping on Earth Day is the perfect thing to do.” In the past, Earth Day of Action has highlighted local wildlife including the shark, whale, sea turtle, and the Snowy Plover. This year, we will honor, dedicate our work, and learn about Kelp, the highly essential seaweed well known for incredible beauty and ability to make oxygen in the nearby waters.

The PBC’s morning of Action followed by the EcoFest is family friendly and open to all ages. From picking up litter to restoring native flora to enjoying the EcoFest environmental booths, music, and entertainment at the beach, everyone in the family can find something that they will enjoy. The PBC encourages as many people as possible to volunteer and would love the extra help. In addition, the EcoFest will feature scores of environmental booths, family activities, a petting zoo, food, face painting, an Ocean-themed Costume contest, and entertainment including BAND & SPEAKERS

This event is organized by the Pacific Beach Coalition and supported by Recology of the Coast, City of Pacifica, County of San Mateo, Taco Bell, Peninsula Clean Energy, North Coast County Water District, O’Reilly Property Group, Eccleston Inc., Safeway and City of Daly.

Free Parking is provided by Cabrillo School with free shuttle to and from the EcoFest site, running from 10:45am to 2:45pm, is provided by Peninsula Clean Energy & City of Pacifica. Plan ahead and take the shuttle at Cabrillo School, 601 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, CA.

About the Pacific Beach Coalition: Formally the Pacifica Beach Coalition is dedicated to preserving the ocean, restoring the coastal habitat, and ending litter through advocacy, education, community building, and citizen action.

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Some of the booths participating at the EcoFest: TBD

Pictures from Earth Day and EcoFest 2018
Earth Day Media Kit => update https://photos.app.goo.gl/FbVEhUFEzQzo7fev1