Coastal Cleanup a Success!

Between the 18th and 30th of September over fifty people from fifteen municipalities in three states converged on the beaches of Ocean County to take part in the International Coastal Cleanup.

The International Coastal Cleanup is the largest volunteer effort in the world to clean up our marine environment. Nationally, The Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit environmental organization headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, coordinates the Cleanup. Locally, at the South Jersey Shore, the cleanup is coordinated by Alliance for a Living Ocean, a non-profit environmental organization based in North Beach Haven, with a mission to promote and maintain clean water and a healthy coastal environment through education, research and active participation.

Participants in the cleanup came from the New Jersey municipalities of Beach Haven, Cedar Run, Fair Haven, Forked River, Little Egg Harbor Twp., Long Beach Twp., Manahawkin, Manchester, New Providence, Ship Bottom, Surf City and Wayne. Other participants were from Reading PA, Rosemont PA, Wayne PA, and Palisades, NY.

The area cleaned totaled more than twelve miles in five Ocean County municipalities, Beach Haven, Little Egg Harbor Twp., Long Beach Twp., Ship Bottom and Surf City.

Over 3,500 pieces of litter were cleaned in these thirteen days. The most commonly found piece of litter was cigarette butts, which totaled over 1,100 being cleaned up. Other significant items of trash were caps and lids, which totaled 353, and plastic food wrappers, totaling 355. A total of 237 balloons, which pose a significant threat to marine mammals, were found.

Unusual items found included 251 fireworks, 57 balloon ribbons, 12 pieces of building materials, 4 pairs of sunglasses, 3 car parts and one plastic film container. However the most peculiar items found were a key, underwear, a sneaker, a pillow, a hairbrush, and 6 long stem roses.

Alliance for a Living Ocean is a grass roots non-profit (501-c-3) organization based in North Beach Haven, NJ with members throughout the New Jersey / New York / Pennsylvania tri-state area. ALO promotes clean coastal waters through educational programs, legislative monitoring, and outreach. The Alliance can be reached at (609) 492-0222, www.livingocean.org, or visit the ALO Environmental Center at 2007 Long Beach Boulevard, North Beach Haven, NJ.

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Author: Press Release