There is less trash on the ground, and homes/garages are less cluttered after July’s Beautify Goleta Plastic Free event.

Some 30 volunteers, including families, cleaned up 175 pounds of trash from the Ellwood and Marketplace neighborhoods at the July 19 Community Cleanup.

Also, 64 vehicles dropped off a combined total of 12,000 pounds of unwanted items in a free bulky item drop-off on Phelps Road.

“Beautify Goleta isn’t just about picking up trash, it’s about being a part of the community,” said Dan Rowell, Goleta’s Environmental Services project manager.

“There are so many good people in the Goodland eager to give back. It’s great to see families, new friends, and old friends, all coming together to learn about sustainable plastic-free lifestyle choices and keep Goleta clean and beautiful,” Rowell said.

The city offered appreciation to Valerie Voorhees of Mission Refill for being a team captain, and for providing free soap refills to volunteers who brought their own jars.

“Even though our Plastic Free July Beautify Goleta event is over, we encourage you to think about how to reduce your plastic use year-round,” the city said.

The Plastic Free Goleta plastic pollution reduction policy includes regulations to reduce the sale and distribution of: 
• Disposable single-use plastic cutlery and straws 
• Polystyrene food ware  
• Polystyrene packing materials and coolers 
• Polystyrene egg cartons, meat trays, and produce trays 
• Mylar or foil balloons, and the release of any balloons

Watch a video on Plastic Free Goleta here. It can be viewed in Spanish at https://youtu.be/XpCJZ1mt6oQ.

The next Beautify Goleta event will be Saturday, Sept. 20, as part of Creek Week and Coastal Cleanup Day.

Learn more about Beautify Goleta at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta.