Clean Ocean Advocate, May 2006
Volunteers Shine at Spring Beach Sweeps
Sunny skies and enthusiasm for a cleaner ocean attracted an estimated 2,000 volunteers to over 60 sites on April 29th for Clean Ocean Action’s 21st Annual Spring Beach Sweeps. At Sandy Hook, US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) saluted over 500 volunteers at a kick-off rally and later joined the beach sweepers by picking up debris. Volunteers swept the beaches clean and collected information on debris on ocean, bay, river, and lake beaches from Perth Amboy to Cape May, NJ.
“COA’s Sweeps remove harmful litter from the environment and, most importantly, collects evidence of the pollution problem. Litter is lethal to marine life and can ruin an otherwise wonderful day at the beach,” said Cindy Zipf, COA’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to reduce sources of litter and to eliminate the need for Beach Sweeps in the future.”
The results of the Spring Beach Sweeps will be available in a few months and will be included in an annual report to be released next spring.
Clean Ocean Action (COA) released the results of last year’s Spring and Fall Beach Sweeps. For the dirty details, view the 2005 Annual Report at www.cleanoceanaction.org. For information about sponsoring individual sites for the October 21st Fall Beach Sweeps, contact Jennifer Smiga at 732-872-0111.
A Glimpse at Spring Beach Sweeps Sites:
- Highlands – Members of the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Environmental Club found a moped on the beach.
- Midway Beach in Seaside Park – seven volunteers picked-up 19 Mylar and latex balloons with string/ribbon.
- Middletown (Port Monmouth) – Over 40 volunteers collected 30 bags of trash.
- Perth Amboy – Representatives from the City Council and Mayor's Office attended this new Sweeps site. Fifteen members in full uniforms from the Naval Weapons Station Earle Sea Cadets participated. In total, about 30 volunteers from ages 8 to 87 picked up more than 16 bags of garbage.
- Pt. Pleasant Beach (Jenkinson’s Aquarium) – Over 60 volunteers found a lobster trap, a large entangled fishing net, and a tire.
- Sandy Hook – Over 500 volunteers, including “Flat Stanley,” picked up: 4,762 plastic food wrappers/bags; 3,547 plastic forks, knives, spoons; 1,757 plastic beverage bottles; a hard hat and headlight.
- Ventnor – 20 volunteers collected 30 bags of trash and recyclables and a television set.
2006 BEACH SWEEPS SPONSORS
Lead Sponsors: ShopRite and Verizon
Individual Site Sponsors:
- Adventure Aquarium of Camden: Ventnor
- Atlantic City Electric, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Cape May, and Sea Isle City
- Keyport Business Alliance: Keyport
- The Mary Holder Agency Realtors: Bay Head, Bradley Beach, and Spring Lake
- Panasonic and Rotary District #7510 – Interact: Sandy Hook
- Surfrider Foundation – Jersey Shore Chapter in memory of Daniel Clune: Pt. Pleasant Beach - Jenkinson’s Aquarium
Special thanks to: Staff of Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook; Rotary District #7510 - Interact; Barbara Boyd and the students at the Marine Academy of Science & Technology (MAST); Brookdale Community College Culinary Arts Department; Barbara Bennett, and many other groups, businesses, and individuals that contributed time, resources, and refreshments to the Beach Sweeps along the entire coast.
