Thousands to clean N.J. beaches Saturday

Clean Ocean Action, a regional coalition based in Sandy Hook that fights for clean water off the New Jersey and New York coastlines, will host its 32th annual Fall Beach Sweeps this Saturday.

Thousands of volunteers will scour 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 the organization.

“These reports help identify pollution problems, aid legislators in enacting laws to protect our marine environment, and inform local, state and international efforts to combat marine pollution,” a spokesperson said in a release.

The volunteers typically collect hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris — the majority of which is typically disposable plastic — from the New Jersey coastline.

IF YOU GO

The event, slated for 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., is open to volunteers of all ages, either individually or groups from businesses, families, and organizations.

Participants should wear gloves, dress for the weather, apply sunscreen, and wear closed-toed, hard-soled shoes.

There are dozens of sites, stretching from Essex County to Cape May County. Click here for a complete list.