nick.kaspar@longbeach.gov
Chief of Staff
Office of Councilmember Duggan
LONG BEACH, CA — Building on a multi-year effort to protect the coastline and reduce the fiscal burden of beach maintenance, the City of Long Beach has officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Los Angeles County and The Ocean Cleanup. The agreement marks a major milestone in the city’s strategy to stop millions of pounds of trash from flowing down the Los Angeles River and onto local shores.
The partnership originated in 2023 when the Office of Councilmember Kristina Duggan contacted the international non-profit to explore scaling their river interception technology for the Long Beach region. After reviewing data, meeting with City teams, and field assessments along the Los Angeles River watershed, The Ocean Cleanup designated the Los Angeles region as a priority in its global 30 Cities Program in 2025.
"For too long, our beaches have been littered with debris carried through 800 miles of watershed," said Councilmember Kristina Duggan. "Long Beach residents deserve clean water and a pristine shoreline."
Each year, the City of Long Beach spends millions of taxpayer dollars on manual debris removal. By collaborating with Los Angeles County and Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, this MOU supports localized efforts like the Marine Debris and Trash Capture Project. Proposed near Queens Way and West Ocean Boulevard, the project utilizes a system of "Kicker" and "Receiver" booms designed to intercept plastic and trash before it enters the open ocean.
For more information on the Marine Debris and Trash Capture Project, visit the project website.