For 25 years volunteers have gathered together for Coastal Cleanup Day. The annual event takes place this year on the morning of September 15, 2012.
To volunteer in California visit the California Coastal Commission. For anywhere else visit International Coastal Cleanup.
You can also take a pledge to keep our waters trash free, and follow the event on Facebook and Twitter.
Just how bad is the trash in our oceans?
Data from the 2011 cleanup day, from the Ocean Conservancy:
