SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – Amidst the backdrop of sandy beaches and crashing waves, one organization has been waging a quiet war against trash for decades. Since 1985, Clean Ocean Action has performed annual beach sweeps, effectively removing close to 8,000,000 pieces of debris from New Jersey’s coastline.
The initiative returned in 2021 after a COVID-19-induced hiatus, mobilizing 10,003 volunteers who picked up 513,605 items in a six-hour window. The numbers tell a story of a relentless problem: litter left behind by beachgoers that accumulates every year.
What the Sweeps Recovered: The Top 10 Offenders
- Plastic Caps and Lids: These seemingly harmless items accounted for nearly 70,000 pieces of beach trash. Contrary to popular belief, burying them in the sand doesn’t make them go away.
- Plastic Pieces: Whether from broken chairs or coolers, 67,000 pieces of fragmented plastic were collected.
- Food and Candy Wrappers: Discarded casually by beachgoers, wrappers amounted to 58,000 pieces of trash found during the sweep.
- Straws and Stirrers: Easy to use and easier to dispose of improperly, 34,800 straws and stirrers were found on the beaches.
- Cigarette Filters: Often buried in the sand, 32,000 filters were uncovered in 2021.
- Foam Pieces: From boogie boards to takeout containers, 26,800 foam pieces were discovered.
- Other Plastics: Miscellaneous plastics made up 13,500 pieces of the debris.
- Paper: Discarded flyers, newspapers, and other forms of paper contributed to 11,700 pieces of litter.
- Plastic Bottles: Over 11,000 bottles were found, a reminder of the ongoing plastic pollution crisis.
- Cigar Tips: A seemingly indulgent pleasure left a significant mark with 11,300 tips collected.
Beachgoers are encouraged to be more responsible about their trash disposal habits, as every piece left behind contributes to a growing problem. While Clean Ocean Action and its volunteers show the way, it’s up to everyone else to ensure that New Jersey’s beaches remain the treasures they’re meant to be.