From paradise to landfill: beloved California beach covered in trash

Shopping carts, traffic cones and Styrofoam among the piles of debris that littered Seal Beach after a trio of winter storms

Beachgoers hoping to stretch their legs on southern California's famous Seal Beach were surprised to find a mountain of trash instead of sand and surf this week.

After a trio of winter storms dropped inches of rain on the area, the beach looked more like a landfill than a pristine paradise. Shopping carts, traffic cones and Styrofoam were among the piles of debris that littered the stretch of beach.