Will instructions be given?

Yes! A volunteer lead or team member will greet you at the cleanup with tools and best practices tips.

Where do I park?

For Dunes Beach: please download our parks pass for FREE for the day and have printed and placed on your dashboard inside your vehicle. Upcycle the parking pass into a paper airplane to toss into the recycling bin afterwards!

Is there water/food at the cleanup?

We will not have water or food available unless otherwise specified. Please BYO filled water bottle and snacks if needed. There are markets close by. Like Spangler’s Market, Jetty Wave, and Old Princeton Landing.

Do I need to do anything prior to the cleanup?

Yes! Please download the Clean Swell App so we can better keep track of this data.

What happens to the trash after?

The trash is counted and tracked for data, which is then used for petitions, grants, brand audits, and to better understand the impact of single-use plastic items. Once the data is collected, the trash is sent to the landfill, unless otherwise kept for display and educational purposes.

Are any items recycled?

Unfortunately these items are considered “contaminated” and we are not allowed to recycle them by the recommendation of San Mateo County.

Do I avoid any litter?

Yes! Please do not touch syringes, alive, dead or injured marine species, any objects that are too heavy or large for you to carry on your own. Please be careful when reaching into bushes, and be sure you can see the object before you grab it. Please avoid touching seaweed, shells, feathers, or any natural debris.

Are the beaches safe?

San Mateo County beaches are known for hosting large swell and sneaker waves. Please do not turn your back on the ocean ever, keep an eye on children near the water, and check to see if the tide is coming up or down. Learn more about ocean safety here.

Does Sea Hugger have other events?

We sure do! See our events page here for upcoming offerings.

Can I volunteer in other ways?

Absolutely! Please visit our volunteer page for more opportunities or email our team today!

We currently have one monthly cleanup at Dunes Beach on the 4th Saturday of each month.

If you have found an area needing attention, reach out to our team! We can reach out to our network for a call to action. We also encourage you to organize a cleanup of your own (we can help!), being cautious of associated risks of the area like rogue waves, hazardous/heavy items, etc.

Host your own cleanup through Sea Hugger by visiting our DIY Beach Cleanup page (here).

We also have corporate team building options and are happy to work with your team to make a difference! Learn more here.