Beach cleanups scheduled throughout San Diego County following Fourth of July mess

Beaches and waterways around San Diego County are scheduled for post-holiday trash clean-ups today.

At 8 a.m., volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation will pick up garbage at the Ocean Beach Pier, Belmont Park in Mission Beach, Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach and the Oceanside Harbor beach.

Last year, more than 450 volunteers removed 2,372 pounds of trash and 195 pounds of recycling from four beaches in only two hours, according to the foundation. The trash included 764 plastic bags, 1,163 pieces of Styrofoam and 12,685 cigarette butts.

We've seen a significant decrease in the amount trash coll...