Decoy owl, ‘strange metal lump’ among items found during massive beach trash sweep

More than 3,000 volunteers swept beaches from the Bayshore to Cape May County on Saturday as part of an New Jersey-based organization’s annual program.

Clean Ocean Action, a regional coalition based in Sandy Hook that fights for clean water off the New Jersey and New York coastlines, hosted its 33rd Annual Fall Beach Sweeps at over 70 sites.

Volunteers scoured tidal waterways for debris, documenting the quantity and types of garage found. The collective results will be subsequently analyzed and published in an annual report, which will help to reduce sources of pollution, according to a press release.

On Sandy Hook alone, 600 volunteer sweepers found 8,890 plastic pieces, 6,413 caps/lids, 5,046 straws/stirrers, 4,203 food/candy wrappers, and 1,475 foam pieces.

Participants also found a tomato, roof tile, knee brace, USB cell phone, credit card, nail polish brushes, dental floss stick, Vaseline jar, candles, spray paint, pairs of glasses, shotgun shells, beach chair, dog collar, “strange metal lump,” tire, pendant, doll tiera, engine, hair rollers, pumpkin, decoy owl, and a graffiti road sign.