Beaches in San Diego County and other parts of California are suffering the effects of the pandemic, as visitors have left behind a steady stream of trash, including disposable face masks, plastic takeout containers and other items, according to environmental groups that collect and track beach pollution.
“It’s really a function of all the single-use disposable plastic we use,” said Surfrider Foundation CEO Chad Nelson. “It’s an existing problem that has gotten notably worse since the pandemic.”
