Call for Volunteers: 35th Annual Operation Clean Sweep on San Diego Bay
Contact: Kelley Lieberman, 619.643.0154, klieberman@portofsandiego.org
The Port of San Diego and San Diego Working Waterfront invite the public to participate in the 35th annual Operation Clean Sweep on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at various locations around San Diego Bay.
The annual event focuses on removing trash and debris from San Diego Bay and the surrounding waterfront. Volunteer divers, boaters and walkers are needed at public and private cleanup sites, including Barrio Logan, Chula Vista, Coronado, the Embarcadero, Harbor Island, Imperial Beach, National City, Seaport Village, and Shelter Island.
On Sunday, August 10, in celebration of the United States Coast Guard sailing ship, Eagle, visiting the Port of San Diego for the first time in 17 years, the Coast Guard Eagle cadets will participate in a mini Operation Clean Sweep along the Embarcadero on the south side of B Street Pier from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Media is invited to attend and cover both the mini cleanup and the larger cleanup event.
“The Port of San Diego is proud to support Operation Clean Sweep, and we are grateful to all our partners, sponsors and volunteers for helping clean up San Diego Bay and the surrounding waterfront,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “Events like this are especially important because they bring the community together as environmental champions to help care for, protect and make a lasting impact on our bayfront so it can be enjoyed for years to come.”
Operation Clean Sweep is expecting more than 1,000 volunteers this year. Many of the cleanup sites are family-friendly, and youth and members of the military can earn eight hours of community service. All cleanup materials are provided, including bags, gloves, and in some case trash pickers.
Those who volunteer on August 23 will receive a free t-shirt and are invited to an after party hosted by the San Diego Working Waterfront at Shelter Island Shoreline Park on Shelter Island. The party will feature hosted food, music, a fun contest for most unique trash found during the cleanup event, and a soccer game with San Diego FC. Many waterfront businesses are offering gift cards for dining and hotel stays through an opportunity drawing at the after party. In addition, all youth volunteers will receive prizes for participating in the waterfront cleanup event.
“For 35 years, the San Diego Working Waterfront has organized this community event for our five Port cities, and every year, we are grateful to all our waterfront workers and the public who spend a Saturday helping make their neighborhoods look great,” said San Diego Working Waterfront President Sharon Cloward, who has organized Operation Clean Sweep for the past 35 years. “The family participation is phenomenal, as are the volunteer divers and boaters who comb under and over the water for trash. We thank the Port of San Diego for decades of support and collaboration, and we could not do this without the continued support of our working waterfront businesses who give to this event every single year.”
Those interested in volunteering can learn more and register at sdworkingwaterfront.com/events/operation-clean-sweep. To register, volunteers must complete a waiver and bring a signed copy to their chosen cleanup site.
Operation Clean Sweep is hosted and organized by the San Diego Working Waterfront. It is sponsored by the Port of San Diego, Republic Services, EDCO, Lokket, Bartell hotels, General Dynamics NASSCO, Austal USA, R.E. Staite, and Continental Maritime of San Diego. More than 50 Port tenants and partners support and participate in Operation Clean Sweep each year.
About THE Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.
The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences and Environment, all focused on enriching the relationship people and businesses have with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, from marinas to museums, from 23 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life on a daily basis.
ABOUT PORT OF SAN DIEGO ENVIRONMENT
Port of San Diego Environment champions the safekeeping and environmental care of our diverse ecosystems. Year after year, environmental goals are set and measured to evolve environmental initiatives – ensuring San Diego Bay remains a vibrant resource and contributes to a remarkable way of life for visitors and residents for generations to come.