Volunteers sought to help clean up firework debris at local beaches Sunday
Organizers of the annual fireworks clean-up efforts along Whatcom County beaches are looking for volunteers for this year’s event, set for Sunday, July 5.
The day after the Fourth of July is one of the dirtiest days for beaches in the United States. Considering this will be a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, even more fireworks trash is expected, according to a news release from the Surfrider Foundation, a national nonprofit that lobbies for the protection of oceans and beaches.
In 2025 volunteers working with the Surfrider Foundation collected more than 50,000 pounds of fireworks debris from beaches across the country, including 200-300 pounds from Locust Beach in Bellingham, according to Seth Mangold, community engagement specialist with RE Sources, the Bellingham-based nonprofit that works with Surfrider to keep Whatcom County beaches clean.
“When we are thinking about firework trash, that doesn’t weigh a whole lot. There are some bottles and cans, but it takes a lot for that to add up,” Mangold told The Bellingham Herald.
Volunteers will be back out on Locust Beach on Sunday, cleaning up cardboard, cans and other debris left behind from Saturday’s celebrations.
“We generally get 30-40 (volunteers),” Mangold said. “We are always happy to have more. It’s heartening to know folks are dedicated to keep our beaches clean, protecting the bay and the larger Salish Sea.”
Cleaning the beach isn’t just about keeping it clear, but removing the trash so it does not get swept into the ocean where it can cause serious damage to the ecosystem, Mangold said.
RE Sources works with Surfrider on multiple beach cleanup projects a year, at several beaches around Bellingham. In February, RE Sources organized a cleanup of Locust Beach for Valentine’s Day. The organization led a clean-up of the beach at Cherry Point in September.
Volunteering is a family-friendly event, tools will be provided, and RE Sources will even have some smaller tools and buckets for little kids. Mangold said it’s a way for people of all ages and all backgrounds to give back to the community.
People can register to volunteer online through the RE Sources website, but it is not a requirement. Anyone who shows up Sunday will be welcomed, Mangold said.
Volunteering begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, and volunteers can expect to be there for about two hours. RE Sources will be meeting at 3199 Locust Ave. and then taking the trail down to the beach.
Sunday’s weather is expected to be sunny with a high of 71 degrees, although that hasn’t stopped people from helping in the past, according to Mangold. He said he is always surprised at how many people show up whether it is a bright, sunny day or a cloudy, rainy one.
“I really love that the community shows up and wants to give back when these opportunities are provided to them,” he said. “People come out rain or shine.”
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