Thousands to scour N.J. waterways during massive trash sweep

Clean Ocean Action, a regional coalition that fights for clean water off the New Jersey and New York coastlines, will host its 33rd annual Fall Beach Sweep this Saturday.

Trash collected by volunteers with the Clean Ocean Action environmental group in April 2012. (Wayne Parry/AP Photo

Trash collected by volunteers with the Clean Ocean Action environmental group in April 2012. (Wayne Parry/AP Photo

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 33rd annual Fall Beach Sweeps this Saturday.

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 a Clean Ocean Action press release.

“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,” the release states.

Last year, 7,416 volunteers collected, tallied, and removed 373,686 pieces of debris from the New Jersey coastline. 84.46% of the items collected were plastic or foam plastic.

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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 are requested to pre-register by using the online sign-up form here.

You 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.

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