Marine pollution continues to litter New Jersey’s 127 miles of beach shoreline. That is the clear evidence resulting from the 2005 Beach Sweeps sponsored by Clean Ocean Action (COA) and highlights the need for stricter enforcement of litter laws and cleanup programs, according to the environmental organization.
Clean Ocean Action is calling on citizens of all ages to volunteer for the 21st annual Spring Beach Sweeps, which will be held statewide on April 29.
Despite heavy rain, wind and thunderstorms during last year’s Spring and Fall Beach Sweeps, 2,769 volunteers removed more than 21 tons of debris from beaches and waterways stretching from South Amboy to Cape May, according to COA.
Volunteers braved the weather at 89 locations in 50 municipalities, contributing over 7,500 service hours for the protection of the marine environment, and collecting and recording information about 160,831 items.
The complete report is posted on COA’s Web site, www.cleanocean-action.org.
According to the annual Beach Sweeps report, the largest category of marine pollution is plastics and 10 percent foam plastics, combined. For the second consecutive year, the No. 1 item that volunteers picked up during 2005 was plastic caps and lids, totaling 20,790. New Jersey’s “Dirty Dozen,” which is an annual list of the top 12 items most frequently collected and recorded at the Beach Sweeps, contributed to 69 percent of the items collected in 2005. Nine of the top 12 items were plastic.
Also, as part of the report, COA compiles a list of the most unusual items found during the Sweeps each year. The 2005 “Roster of the Ridiculous” includes 13 toothbrushes, 11 shopping carts, eight Easter eggs, two windshield wipers and a hammer.
To stem the tide of litter, COA is calling for agencies and municipalities to enforce litter laws and collect fines. According to the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, of the 370 municipalities and 15 counties that submitted reports, 11,911 litter violations and 5,959 citations were issued from July 2003-June 2005. This amounts to approximately only 16 violations and eight citations per reporting town per year.
Of concern for 2006 is the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act that took effect on April 15, which prohibits cigar, cigarette and pipe smoking in restaurants, bars, private office buildings and other indoor places. According to COA, the law may increase the amount of cigarette butts littering the environment due to people lingering outside establishments to smoke. Clean Ocean Action urges municipalities and businesses to provide ample and convenient receptacles for smokers to help limit litter.
With the summer season approaching and marine life threatened, volunteers are needed to remove the debris from beaches.
The 21st annual Spring Beach Sweeps will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at more than 50 locations from Perth Amboy to Cape May.
Volunteers interested in participating in the Spring Beach Sweeps are instructed to bring gloves, dress for the weather (event is rain or shine), and wear sunscreen and hard-soled shoes. Only groups of 15 or more are asked to preregister by contacting COA or registering online. To register online or for a complete list of Sweeps sites and meeting locations, visit www.cleanoceanaction.org and follow the links for Beach Sweeps, or call (732) 872-0111.