Ribbon Cutting: Stand Up To Trash | Clean CA Community

Join the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 14 at 9:30am as we celebrate Dana Point's official designation as a Clean California Community.

The ribbon cutting will celebrate a new sign installation with the official Clean California Community designation. The ceremony will be held on Dana Point Harbor Drive & Puerto Place.

Please click the blue Register button to RSVP. There is no charge to attend. Open to the public.


About the Clean California Community Designation:
In September 2025, the City of Dana Point announced it earned the designation as an official Clean California Community from Caltrans' Clean CA initiative, making Dana Point one of only 30 California communities to earn the designation. 

The City was recognized in collaboration with local non-profit Stand Up To Trash, an organization committed to protecting the ocean by raising awareness of the harmful impact of plastic pollution through environmental education that empowers future generations. This honor solidifies Dana Point and Stand Up To Trash's roles as leaders in California's Zero Litter movement to reduce litter and keep all parts of the state as clean, healthy and beautiful as possible.

Stand Up To Trash’s Founder and President Vicki Patterson began the process in December 2024 and submitted a comprehensive application in March 2025, meeting 11 of the designation’s 15 possible criteria (only 10 were required), including:

• Community & Youth Education – Through Stand Up To Trash programs such as The Ocean Starts at Your Front Door and monthly Lunch & Learn events, the non-profit engaged thousands of students and families in hands-on ocean education.
• Volunteer Action – Over 80 community events brought together residents, businesses, and youth ambassadors, resulting in more than 16,000 pounds of waste removed and 12,000+ participants inspired to take positive action.
• Community Input & Partnerships – From local businesses to city leadership, collaboration was essential in creating innovative programs such as the Keep The Cup campaign to reduce single-use plastics, further encouraging ongoing stewardship of Dana Point’s coastal environment.
• Infrastructure – To preserve natural resources, the City maintains over 550 catch basin inlet filers and four regional trash separation units with a weekly street sweeping program.
• Greening & Beautification – As the Monarch butterfly population continues to decline, Dana Point has created Monarch butterfly habitats with the help of volunteers in city parks for the past four years with the objective of seeing a million Monarch butterflies return to Dana Point.