COA celebrates Earth Day with Beach Sweeps

Thousands of volunteers will gather at more than 60 sites along the New Jersey coast for Clean Ocean Action's (COA) 24th annual Spring Beach Sweeps on Saturday, April 25.

The largest grassroots environmental event in the state and one of the longest-running cleanups of its kind in the U.S., the COA Beach Sweeps will mobilize individuals of all ages between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to make a visible impact on the environment.

Since it began in 1985, more than 70,000 volunteers have removed and cataloged over 3 million pounds of debris from beaches at the Jersey Shore.

However, the Beach Sweeps events are more than people picking up trash from beaches. By giving volunteers a firsthand look at the types and quantities of debris found along the state's shorelines, and asking them to classify and record their findings, the program builds community support for solutions while raising awareness about the negative impacts of litter on wildlife and the ocean.

According to Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, each participant's contribution resonates far beyond the state.

"The data collected during the Beach Sweeps is utilized to identify and monitor trends in pollution and has helped create federal, state and local programs and laws to reduce litter in the environment," Zipf said in a press release. "Plus, the data from the Beach Sweeps is submitted to the Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C., as part of its international database on marine debris and the worldwide campaign against ocean pollution."

Through various sponsorships, the business community also contributes to the COA Beach Sweeps campaign.

On the day of the sweeps, beach captains will greet volunteers at each site and distribute cleanup materials. Volunteers should bring gloves, dress appropriately for the weather, apply sunscreen and wear shoes with closed toes and hard soles. Groups of 10 or more are requested to preregister by calling 732-872- 0111 or by using the online sign-up form on the COA website. Preregistration for individuals or groups of fewer than 10 is not required. For a list of sites, the group sign-up form, and other tips, go to www.cleanoceanaction.org and follow the links for Beach Sweeps.

Since its founding in 1984, the mission of Clean Ocean Action has been to improve the degraded water quality of the waters off the New Jersey/New York coast. COA strives to identify the sources of pollution and mount an attack on each source by using research, public education, and citizen action to convince public officials to enact and enforce measures that will clean up and protect the ocean.

In recognition of its 25th year of working to protect the waterways and shoreline, COA has launched the Call to Action Campaign, a yearlong effort to inspire citizens to take an active part in saving the ocean and the environment. Visit www.cleanoceanaction.org for a Call to Action Campaign booklet, which outlines 125 suggested actions to save the ocean.