Shannon Roberts (left), Lem Nguyen (center) and Joshua Pickell deposit cigarette butts into a 5-gallon container at a Surfrider Foundation-sponsored beach cleanup at Venice Beach, Calif. on Jul. 16, 2022. Most cigarette filters are made of a fine plastic mesh that breaks apart into microplastics. Credit: Philip Salata
A volunteer puts down a pile of trash pickup sticks during a Surfrider beach cleanup at Venice Beach, Calif. on Jul. 16, 2022. Credit: Philip Salata
Deidre Larson shows her grandson Leo Ruiz the kinds of detritus that collect on the beach at the Surfrider Foundation’s pop-up canopy on Jul. 16, 2022. “I’m helping the planet,” Ruiz said. Credit: Philip Salata
Kelcey Rose collects trash under the pier at Venice Beach, Calif. on Jul. 16, 2022. Rose has been volunteering with Surfrider for years in California as well as Florida where she grew up. Credit: Philip Salata
