Why Picking Up Trash Matters — and How You Can Help

At Keep California Green and Golden, we believe that small actions lead to big change. Every month, we set out with a simple goal: remove 2 metric tons of trash from California’s most beautiful places — and we’ve been reaching it.

Trash at Newport Beach, California

From the Baylands in Palo Alto to Rubicon Bay at Lake Tahoe, we’ve cleaned up beaches, parks, trails, and even baseball fields (shoutout to our partners at Palo Alto Little League!). We’re heading to Newport Beach next, and we’d love your help.

You’d be surprised what ends up in our wild spaces: not just bottles and cigarette butts, but carpets, bathtubs, and even stolen bikes. Every item we remove is one less piece of pollution threatening wildlife, one less hazard for kids and hikers, one step closer to a cleaner, greener California.

Picking up trash might seem small, but it adds up. It protects marine life. It keeps parks usable. It shows pride in our communities. And maybe most importantly, it sets an example — for neighbors, for families, for the next generation.

So grab a bag, join a cleanup, or just take five minutes during your next walk. Whether you’re hauling debris from a beach or picking up a candy wrapper on a trail, your effort matters.

Together, we can keep California green, golden, and thriving.