The Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) will host its next “Keep Del Mar Green” community cleanup event on Saturday, Sept. 21, encouraging volunteers to hit the beach areas and nearby streets to pick up trash to protect local waterways. The free event, held on International Coastal Cleanup Day, starts and ends at the 17th Street Lifeguard Headquarters.

At the 10-11 a.m. cleanup, DMVA will showcase its first-of-its-kind Del Mar ShoreSaver Program, its environmental initiative sponsored in partnership with the City of Del Mar, EDCO, and Relic Coastal Collaborative.

Launched in April, DMVA has created three docking stations in Del Mar equipped with reusable baskets to encourage community and visitor beachgoers to actively participate in trash collection, fostering a culture of sustainability and community involvement in preserving Del Mar’s coastline.

“DMVA has been hosting quarterly community cleanups since October 2022, which have been enthusiastically embraced by the local community,” said Jen Grove, CEO of DMVA in a news release. “We have regulars who attend every cleanup and also welcome newcomers every time, all of whom appreciate the opportunity to take a proactive role in protecting and maintaining our downtown and the natural beauty of our shores.”

Those interested in volunteering can sign up at visitdelmarvillage.com/communitycleanup. Volunteers are asked to bring reusable bags or buckets, gloves and/or trash pickers if possible, although a limited amount of supplies will be available at the event.