GET INVOLVED
TODAY!
Your Action Today Shapes Tomorrow
Every choice we make ripples through the world around us. From the waves that touch our shores to the wildlife that calls the ocean home—your actions matter.
When you take a moment to pause, reflect and reconnect with nature, you’ll see it: the powerful impact one person can have.
By getting involved today, you become part of a movement to protect what we love.
Whether you're here to clean a beach, educate others or inspire change, you’re in the right place.
Let’s make waves together.
TAKE ACTION.
Our Passion is Clean Oceans. Our Mission is You.
At Stand Up To Trash, we believe protecting our ocean starts with awareness and leads to action.
From removing plastic pollution and restoring native plants, to educating future ocean stewards and honoring cultural traditions, everything we do is about creating lasting change.
Through hands-on cleanups, youth programs, educational events and community partnerships, we’re building a movement that empowers individuals, schools and families to stand up for the sea.
This is more than a cause. It’s a community, driven by purpose, fueled by passion and inspired by people like you!
Together, we’re cleaning beaches, shifting mindsets and protecting our ocean for generations to come.
Ready to dive in?
Beach
Clean Ups
Check our Event Page
Join Us For a Community Beach Cleanup!
Come together with fellow ocean lovers to make a real difference.
Every piece of trash removed helps protect marine life and keep our coastlines beautiful.
Grab a friend, bring your reusable gloves and let’s clean up with purpose!
#StandUpToTrash
#DontPassItUpPickItUp
Donate
Today
Plastic is Choking Our Oceans.
But You Can Help Change That.
Every year, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced and more than 90% of it is never recycled.
At least 8 million tons end up in our oceans annually, the equivalent of a garbage truck dumping plastic into the sea every single minute.
This crisis won’t solve itself. But with your help, we can fight back.
Your donation directly supports our cleanups, education programs and community outreach, all aimed at protecting marine life and preserving our coastlines for future generations.
Together, we can turn the tide.
Please consider giving today.
Become a Member
Be a Force for the Ocean.
Join our annual membership and become part of a community committed to protecting what we love.
Whether it’s $5 or $125, every level of support fuels cleanups, education, and advocacy for a cleaner, healthier coastline.
Your membership makes waves—big or small—all year long.
Together, we’re creating a safer, more beautiful ocean for generations to come.
Volunteer
Lend Your Hands, Share Your Talents, Make An Impact
At Stand Up To Trash, we’re passionate about protecting our oceans, but real change takes a team.
That’s where you come in.
Whether you have time to give, a skill to share, or simply a desire to make a difference, your contribution matters.
We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to help in a variety of ways, including:
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Photography & Videography – Help us capture the magic of our events and tell our story visually.
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Event Support – Assist with set-up, check-in, hospitality, or activity stations at beach cleanups and educational programs.
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Education & Outreach – Share our message at schools, community events, or through your own network.
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Social Media & Content Creation – Help us reach more ocean lovers with compelling posts, videos, or blog content.
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Fundraising & Sponsorship – Use your connections or skills to help us raise funds and secure donations.
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Native Plant Restoration & Cleanup Leads – Get hands-on with nature and help guide others during stewardship events.
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Got a special skill? Graphic design, marine biology, organizing, public speaking—whatever your talent, there’s a place for you here.
Together, we can clean beaches, educate communities and inspire a movement.
Fill out the form below and let us know how you’d like to help.
Thank you for your kindness, your time and your dedication to the ocean!
Help For The Entangled, Hurt or Injured Animals
Call the Entanglement Reporting Hotline at 1-877-SOS-WHALE
(1-877-767-9425) or contact the U.S. Coast Guard on a VHF radio, Channel 16.
Authorities can then assemble the appropriate professionals to respond to the disentanglement.
Report Fish and Wildlife Crimes
1-888-334-CALTIP
Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari has great information on How Entangled Whales Are Rescued
DO YOUR PART.
DO YOUR PART.
You can be a part of the solution!
Tips to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint
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Carry reusable shopping bags
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Give up bottled water, sodas and other plastic bottled beverages
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Carry reusable utensils and glass drinking straws
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Carry a stainless steel travel mug or water bottle at all times for coffee and other drinks while out
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When ordering pizza say no to the little plastic table in the middle of the pizza box.
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Say no to plastic produce bags
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Use Loose Leaf Tea / ditch the tea bag
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Say no to plastic cutlery
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Straws suck
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Ditch the cling wrap
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Shop your local farmers market
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Buy from the bulk bin and bring your own bags or containers
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Choose plastic free chewing gum
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Clean with vinegar and water
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Avoid anything with “polyethylene” listed as an ingredient.
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Switch to bar soap
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Use plastic free sunscreen
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Use natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film (I love ours, and we made our own using our favorite fabric)
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Make your own homemade yogurt, nut milk, snacks and energy bars.
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Repair things when they break instead of buying a new one.
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Compost food waste
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Shop thrift stores
Take Action: Be the Voice for the Ocean
Do you care about the future of our planet?
Do you believe in respecting all living beings and protecting the environment?
Are you passionate about your health, your community, and creating a better world?
Do you want to be part of a positive movement that inspires real change?
If you’re nodding your head—this is your moment.
We’re looking for ocean-loving changemakers to become Stand Up To Trash Ambassadors, people who lead by example, speak up for the planet and inspire others to do the same.
Whether you’re living mindfully, eating plant-based, going plastic-free or simply doing your best to make eco-conscious choices, you belong here!
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to care.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
“I pledge, as an Ambassador for Stand Up To Trash to use my voice and platform to bring awareness to the preservation of our oceans, and to help educate my audience toward positive change.”
Michael Draves
Michael joined Stand Up To Trash to participate in marine conservation while educating others on the importance of conservation. When he moved to Capistrano Beach, he wanted to become involved in preserving and protecting the place he now calls home.
After participating in one of Stand Up To Trash’s beach cleanups, he was inspired by their mission of protecting the ocean through the removal of plastic waste while also encouraging others to do the same.
Inspired by their dedication to marine conservation and education, Michael became an ambassador to further advocate for environmental protection.
Jolyn Zheng
My family uses eco-friendly household cleaning products.
Changes I'd like to see in the world:
- More recycling bins
-Everyone using reuseable bags at the grocery store!
Henry Farris
Meet Henry Farris: Our Jr. Ocean Defender!
Henry is a passionate environmental advocate who leads by example, always picking up other people's trash at the beach—because, as he says, "Every little bit helps!"
🌍 His vision? A world where the ocean is free from litter and sea creatures are safe and thriving. 🐢💙
When Henry isn't busy cleaning up the coast, he’s spreading the word about the importance of protecting our planet. His favorite motto, "Keep Mother Earth clean!" is his rallying cry, and he lives by it every day.
We’re thrilled to have Henry on board as a Stand Up To Trash ambassador, inspiring others to take action and care for the environment like he does!
Be like Bridget!
Ambassador Bridget Posluszny
Meet our beautiful Ambassador Bridget Posluszny!
I believe in keeping my “home” ( beach) clean!
I avoid single-use plastics, straws, cups and plates!
I use bamboo utensils, reusable straws and reuse glass jars for sea glass, plants, pencils and supplies.
I always bring my own bag when shopping, always!!!
When I leave the beach I bring memories, collect trash from others and anything I brought there!
I believe in lowering our carbon footprints.
I have been fueled by a plant based diet since 1985, ride, skate or walk most places and decrease usage of home appliances.
I’m a perfectly imperfect tiny ball of energy hoping to conserve, protect and help others respect our oceans!
I love to live Aloha and see the good in everything!
Everyday is a gift and I would love to see more people keep giving the gift!
Giving respect and love to humans, animal and our Mother Earth and Ocean.
I also love inspiring young people and encouraging them that THEY can make a difference in our world by picking up pieces of trash, planting trees and produce and avoiding plastics.
I will always be a barefoot wandering wahine- riding the waves and enjoying the days! ALOHA
Oceanology
Dive Into the Facts
💡 What is Trash?
Trash is anything we throw away that isn’t reused, recycled, or composted.
From food wrappers and drink containers to old clothes and broken electronics—if it ends up in a landfill or the environment, it’s considered trash.
🗑️ Why Do We Have Trash?
Because we live in a society built on convenience and consumption.
Many products are made to be used once and thrown away, especially those made of plastic.
Without mindful habits, this waste adds up fast.
🌍 What Do You Do to Stand Up To Trash?
Do you bring a reusable water bottle?
Say no to plastic straws?
Join beach cleanups?
Every action counts.
Think about your current efforts—big or small—that help keep our planet clean.
🚀 What’s Something New You Could Do?
Could you reduce single-use plastics? Start composting? Educate a friend?
There’s always a new way to level up your impact.
What change are you ready to make?
📊 The Big Picture: Ocean Trash Facts
8 million tons of trash enter the ocean every year—that’s one garbage truck every minute.
80% of the trash in the ocean is plastic.
Only 6–9% of plastic actually gets recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.
The Problem With Plastic
Plastic doesn’t decompose like natural materials because it's made from synthetic, often toxic chemicals.
Instead of breaking down, plastic photodegrades, meaning sunlight breaks it into smaller and smaller pieces over time.
These fragments become microplastics, tiny particles that:
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Never fully disappear
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Release harmful toxins
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Are easily mistaken for food by marine life
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Pollute our oceans, soil, and even the air we breathe
🌊 How many microplastics are out there?
Scientists estimate there are 51 trillion microplastic particles floating in our oceans.
That’s 51,000,000,000,000 — more than 500 times the number of stars in our galaxy.
