This Earth Month, join San Francisco Baykeeper for the Clean Bay Challenge and take local action to protect San Francisco Bay.
Trash flows into the Bay in many ways. It blows off streets and sidewalks, it travels down creeks during storms, and it washes through those storm drains you’ve seen marked as “Drains to Bay.”
As a Clean Bay Challenge volunteer, you’ll protect the Bay by picking up trash in the places you already know and love. Baykeeper will provide the tools + tips you need to lead a safe and effective cleanup. It is a great way for kids, families, and neighbors to make a difference together.
Feel good knowing that your local cleanup supports a thriving Bay Area environment for people and wildlife. By joining the Clean Bay Challenge this Earth Month, you help create a Trash Free Bay for everyone.
Will you join Baykeeper to protect the Bay from trash?
Join the Challenge
Step 1. Sign up for the Clean Bay Challenge. Registration is free!
Step 2. Lead a cleanup in your community. Choose your location, follow our safety guidelines, and enjoy knowing your effort protects the Bay.
Step 3. Report your cleanup. Your data supports Baykeeper’s long term advocacy to stop trash at the source. Complete our trash reporting form and share your photos using #trashfreebay.
Where to go for your cleanup
Choose a Bay shoreline, beach, creek, park, storm drain, or city street near you that is open to the public. Note that since these cleanups are self-directed, you will be responsible for disposing of collected trash . Don’t overfill public trash bins, and plan ahead to pack out trash to dispose of at your residence.
To the right is a map of some of our favorite cleanup locations. Please make sure to check if your chosen location is open to the public before heading to your cleanup site.
Why your Action is important
Each year, an estimated 7 trillion pieces of plastic flow into San Francisco Bay, polluting the water and harming wildlife who may mistake trash for food. Single-use items like plastic bags, takeout containers, and bottles litter Bay shorelines, choke local creeks, and fill garbage patches in the ocean. And over time, plastic waste breaks down into microplastics that persist in the Bay and environment, hurting human health and wildlife.
How to track your trash
Fill out this form to share details of where, how much, and what kind of trash you collected. You can also add a photo to show us how it went! Post your photos to social media using the hashtag #trashfreebay.
What to plan for your cleanup kit
- Gloves and hand sanitizer
- Grabbers or tongs
- Sturdy trash bags
- Sunscreen and sunglasses and/or hat
- Sturdy close-toed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Leave no trace. Since you’re organizing your own cleanup, you’ll be responsible for disposing of the trash you collect. Don’t overfill public trash bins, and plan ahead to bring trash home with you to dispose of at your residence.
safety Precautions & Planning
- Wear gloves and use a grabber or tongs to pick up trash. Don’t pick up syringes or other sharp objects, dead animals, or human waste.
- Separate hazardous waste like batteries and paint, and take them to a hazardous waste dropoff center
- Dispose of or wash your gloves and thoroughly wash/sanitize your hands after the cleanup.
- Looking to organize a group cleanup of more than 10 people at a public park? Be sure to check requirements for group activities and contact park officials in advance for approval.
Want to make it competitive? Try Spogomi!
SpoGomi is a Japanese sport that turns picking up trash into a fast-paced and fun game you can play on your own or with a team.
Try SpoGomi at your own Clean Bay Challenge Cleanup:
1) Set your time limit. Official competitions use a one-hour window for picking up trash, followed by 20 minutes to sort. For your own cleanup, choose any amount of time that feels fun and doable.
2) Pick up as much trash as you can. Walk your route and collect trash you find in your designated area. You can define your own area, such as your block, park path, or shoreline stretch.
3) Sort what you collected. Then use our SpoGomi Tracking List to tally your points and see how your cleanup scored.
4) Tell us about your SpoGomi Cleanup. Share your results, photos, and your total points using our reporting form or by tagging Baykeeper on social media with #trashfreebay.
Have fun challenging yourself or competing with friends while helping protect the Bay.
Share and inspire our community
Show us how you’re protecting the Bay from trash pollution by posting a photo, story, or video and tagging us on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtags #cleanbaychallenge #beachcleanup #sfbaykeeper #trashfreebay.
Thank You to our 2026 Clean Bay Challenge Sponsors
Liability Waiver
By participating you understand and agree that neither San Francisco Baykeeper nor associated jurisdictions may be held liable or responsible in any way for any injury, death, or other damages to you or your family, heirs, or assigns that may occur as a result of your participation, or as a result of product liability or the negligence, whether passive or active, of any party in connection with the cleanups.