Clean Ocean Action, an environmental group in New Jersey, has been leading annual “Beach Sweeps” for the past 40 years to clean up trash washed ashore on the state’s beaches. Last year, volunteers collected over 276,899 items, including road signs, syringes, and an inflatable hot tub. Plastic waste made up more than 80% of the debris collected, with bottle caps being the most common item found.
The organization is calling for state lawmakers to pass legislation that would reduce non-recyclable packaging by half and require packaging to be compostable or recyclable over the next decade. They also advocate for laws to reduce the use of plastic cutlery and condiment packets.
Clean Ocean Action has seen some improvements in beach debris, such as fewer plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam containers, which they credit to the state’s plastic bag ban. They are encouraging residents to volunteer for this year’s beach sweeps to continue efforts in keeping New Jersey’s beaches clean. Over 8 million pieces of debris have been collected by volunteers since the program began.
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