Vampire teeth, googly eyes among findings during N.J. beach sweep

Thousands of volunteers swept beaches from New Jersey’s Raritan Bayshore to Cape May County last Saturday as part of an environmental organization’s annual program.

Clean Ocean Action, a regional coalition based in Sandy Hook, New Jersey that fights for clean water off the New Jersey and New York coastlines, hosted its 32nd 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.

Along the shoreline of Sandy Hook alone, sweepers found 6,994 plastic pieces, 5,702 plastic caps and lids, 3,012 straws/stirrers, 2,926 food/candy wrappers, and 1,438 cigarette filters.

Participants also found a Tinker Bell toy, knee brace, vampire teeth, nail clippers, googly eyes, ear plugs, phone charger, gift bow, dog bone, diaper, bloody bandage, and a vape mouth piece.

An “unusually high” quantity of syringes and blood vials were also found on Sandy Hook, according to the organization.