NEWS

Beach sweeps: Hundreds pick up trash on Sandy Hook

Mike Davis
@byMikeDavis
Volunteers participate in Clean Ocean Action's 30th Annual Fall Beach Sweep at over 65 locations around New Jersey and participants will be collecting and tallying marine debris and beach litter, which will later be compiled in their Annual Data report. Noah K. Murray-Special for the Asbury Park Press ASB 1025 Beach Sweeps

SANDY HOOK – Armed with garbage bags, gardening gloves and warm coats, more than 200 volunteers took to the Shore with the simple hope of cleaning the beaches.

Clean Ocean Action on Saturday celebrated its 30th annual fall beach sweeps event, transporting staffers and volunteers up and down the chilly Sandy Hook shoreline to pick up trash and debris left on the beaches after a busy summer.

“While we’re very disappointed we still have to do beach cleanups, we’re celebrating all of you and the power of citizen action,” Clean Ocean Action executive director Cindy Zipf said before a crowd of volunteers. “This is where it all started, with 75 people back in 1985 getting out there and getting dirty.”

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The Sandy Hook event was one of 65 such cleanups throughout New Jersey, from Perth Amboy to Cape May.

More than 100 students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, many wearing the same MAST sweatshirts and varsity jackets, were positioned throughout Sandy Hook, directing traffic and pointing volunteers toward the debris hot spots.

Volunteer Corey Wagner, of Tinton Falls, participates in Clean Ocean Action's 30th Annual Fall Beach Sweep at Sandy Hook beach. Participants will be collecting and tallying marine debris and beach litter, which will later be compiled in their Annual Data report. Noah K. Murray-Special for the Asbury Park Press ASB 1025 Beach Sweeps

“I moved here because I love the beach,” Highlands resident Sue Goldberg said. “So at least on these days, I need to give back to the beach as often as I can.”

At each sweep, volunteers were handed checklists to mark down exactly what items are found.

During last year’s sweep, more than 315,000 pieces of debris were found throughout New Jersey, including everything from bottles and cans to bowling balls and a stun gun.

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“A lot of the people who use the beaches aren’t from New Jersey. Maybe it’s laziness, but they don’t understand the resources they have here,” said Chatham resident Adam Kaye, a fisherman with a boat docked in the Highlands. “The majority of people here are from New Jersey. They’re lifetime beach people.”

Tatiana Young and Justin Ellis, volunteers, participate in Clean Ocean Action's 30th Annual Fall Beach Sweep at Sandy Hook beach in 2015. Spring Beach Sweeps take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22.

“We’re looking for people to find their parks. You guys are here and found your park, giving your time and stewardship,” said Pete McCarthy, Sandy Hook unit coordinator for the National Parks Service.

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com