Join Our Beach and Park Cleanup Day!

Three hundred million pounds . That’s how much trash the Ocean Conservancy volunteers have collected from beaches over 30 years. Every September, these volunteers gather to clean up beaches, and every summer, members of the AMC community do the same.

We’re sad that we can’t physically gather this year, so we encourage you to hold your own beach or park cleanup on July 25 or any day that works in July. Let’s make a difference together! Here’s the why, how, and safety guidelines of beach and park cleanup.

The Why of Beach and Park Cleanups

Have you ever spent an hour or two switching between walking, squatting, and lifting weights at the gym? That’s basically what you’re doing when you participate in a beach or park cleanup. It’s a great workout!

Another benefit is that you’re participating in the vital work of taking care of our beautiful planet and helping create cleaner, safer environments for wildlife. Tourists appreciate cleaner beaches, too, with one study calculating that cleaner beaches in Orange County could translate into “ $46 million in just one summer.”

Whether you head to Independence Park or take a trip to Bolsa Chica State Beach for your cleanup, there is satisfaction in knowing that you are making the world a more beautiful place, even if it’s on a small scale. But hey, isn’t it the little things that really matter in life?

The How of Beach and Park Cleanups

First, choose a date that works well for you and your roommates or immediate family—whether that be Saturday, July 25, AMC’s designated day, or another day in July.

Next, gather supplies like reusable water bottles; snacks; trash bags; gloves; broom, dustpans, and buckets (for cigarette butts, glass, and other potentially harmful trash); and a first aid kit.

Last but not least, invite others to participate, either in their own group or with you. But be sure to follow safety guidelines.

The Safety Guidelines

Beach and park cleanups work really well within social distancing guidelines! If everyone brings their own gloves and trash bags, it’s easy to stay six feet apart. Be sure to wear masks “when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.”

If you’re all arriving at a meeting point, keep this CDC advice in mind: “When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them.”

Let’s make our beaches and parks cleaner together! Whether you join us on July 25 or another day in July, take pictures and tag Avignon Apartment Homes in your photos, using the hashtags #AMCcleanup and #livehappy. Have fun, and stay safe out there!