Cleanup disappoints organizers

Coastal Cleanup Day activities in Laguna Beach witnessed an

astronomically high tide and lower-than expected volunteer turnout.

According to local beach captain Roger von Butow, 425 people

showed up, down by about 300 from last year’s event.

Though von Butow could not explain what may have contributed to a

lower turnout, the numbers were also down for the Inner Coastal &

Watershed Cleanup, which took place on the same day across Orange

County.

Jim Meyers, organizer for the county project, reported that 1,700

volunteers showed up for his event, about 700 fewer than last year.

Meyers suggested there may have been competition from other

volunteer events such as Hurricane Katrina food drives.

“All of the volunteer programs compete with one another,” said

Meyers.

Fewer volunteers translated into a smaller amount of trash picked

up from last year.

Von Butow’s group managed to accumulate 1,345 pounds, 520 of which

was recyclable. This number pales by comparison to last year’s total

collection of 3,500 pounds.

“A lot was removed by the surf itself,” said von Butow, who was

dealing with five-foot high waves and high tide that cut back by half

the amount of beach the group normally cleans.

Meyer’s group picked up a total of 18,000 pounds, below last

year’s performance of 57,000 pounds.

There were similar situations statewide.

Eben Schwartz, statewide director for Coastal Cleanup Day, said

with 80% of participants counted, the number of volunteers stands at

43,326. That may make achieving his goal of 50,000 a close call.

“We rely on media coverage to help us advertise,” said Schwartz.

“Hurricane Katrina has rightly taken some attention away from us.”

Schwartz also gave a preliminary total of 752,000 pounds of trash

collected, of which 68,000 was recyclable.

“The total amount picked up is lower than usual because of the

heavy rains we had over the winter,” said Schwartz, who points out

most trash originates inland and is washed out to the ocean.

The most unusual item found in Laguna’s cleanup was a

tombstone-shaped concrete slab about 24 inches long, 12 inches wide

and five inches thick, with the name “Eco Block” etched into it.

Just how the concrete slab wound up on Laguna’s shores is a

mystery.