Photos by Patrick Olivero
All along the Jersey Shore Saturday, Oct. 26, volunteers could be found participating in Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps. Approximately 5,700 volunteers registered across New Jersey to help clean the beaches and catalogue what types of trash were found. The data is then compiled into an annual report used to bring awareness to the state of the beaches. At Sea Bright, approximately 250 volunteers picked up broken pieces of plastic in an array sizes from bottles, straws, cups and – a newer pollutant – e-cigarette pods. At Sandy Hook alone, over 600 volunteers combed the various beaches for trash, finding driftwood, water shoes, cups, wagon wheels, nails and potato chip bags.
