SAN DIEGO — More than 40 volunteers geared up with gloves, buckets and trash bags to clean up neighborhoods in San Ysidro from litter and debris on Saturday.
“There's no end to the trash in San Diego,” volunteer Jim Olson said.
CBS 8 reported earlier this month that a field near a wastewater treatment facility along the U.S-Mexico border was inundated with raw sewage and tons of trash during the Jan. 22 floods. Six weeks later, debris still littered the area.
384 pounds of litter and debris diverted from the Tijuana River Watershed with the help of local environmental organizations and volunteers who came together to make a difference.
The amount of litter and debris in this community is a major concern for dozens of people who showed up. The main goal is to divert litter from making its way to the Pacific Ocean.
Volunteers like Olson picked up interesting items like a satellite antenna, among other things. Olson’s appreciation for nature pushed him to take matters into his own hands and make a difference.
“I like to go hiking, and I like to discover new canyons and things, and I hate going in there when there's trash,” Olson said.
"I Love a Clean San Diego" Volunteer Program Coordinator Rowan Jackman said about 80% of litter in our waterways and ocean comes from inland sources. Jackman added that the impacts left by our recent floods are still being felt in these communities.
“A lot of that debris is clogging up our storm drains system, so we're making sure we're keeping that out so our communities are not flooding and are clean and waterways and oceans are staying clean as well,” Jackman said.
To help put a focus on solutions to pollution and inspire volunteers, "I Love a Clean San Diego" showcased an art exhibit for the cleanup event by students from Patrick Henry High School. Each piece focuses on depictions of the ocean and keeping waterways clean.
“You as an individual can have a really really big impact on your environment, you're able to make small differences in your life,” Jackman said.
For upcoming community clean-up events visit cleansd.org.
WATCH RELATED: Tijuana River Valley debris and trash remain six weeks after storms