California’s annual Coastal Cleanup Day is more than a month away, but volunteer positions are already available.

Coastal Cleanup Day was founded in 1985 by the California Coastal Commission to pick up the plastic debris that was flowing into the ocean. Its inaugural year saw 2,500 participants, and it had blossomed to more than 50,000 volunteers by 1993. Solano County first took part in 1996, and Benicia participants picked up more than 4,000 pounds of trash and recycling in 2015.

As always, volunteers are being sought in Benicia. Areas have not been announced, but past pickup sites have included First Street, West 3rd Street, West 6th Street, West 9th Street, West 12th Street, two locations at Benicia State Recreation Area and at Benicia High School. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Benicia cleanup coordinator Sue Frost at (707) 980-1895 or watereducation@att.net.

Sites throughout Solano County and neighboring areas are also requesting participants. To volunteer in any of the following areas, please contact the appropriate person at the numbers or emails listed:

* Dixon: Josh Hudson– (530) 682-3265, jhudson@ci.dixon.ca.us.

* Fairfield/Suisun City/Travis Air Force Base: Kevin Cullen– (707) 428-9191, Kcullen@fssd.com.

* Lake Berryessa in Napa: Marianne Butler– (567) 674-5611, Marianne.Butler@solano.rcd.org.

* Lake Solano Park in Winters: Eric DePaul– (530) 795-2990, EJDePaul@solanocounty.com.

* Sandy Beach Park in Rio Vista: Marissa Medders– (707) 374-2097, MAMedders@solanocounty.com.

* Vacaville: Peter Wanberg– (707) 469-6421, Peter.Wanberg@cityofvacaville.com.

* Vallejo: Ken Hawes– (707) 645-8528, info@valcorerecycling.org.

* Putah Creek in Winters: Amy Williams– (530) 219-8144.

Coastal Cleanup Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 16. For more information, go to Recycle.SolanoCounty.com.

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