Clean Ocean Action’s 40th annual Spring Beach Sweep beats weather

Despite cold, rainy conditions and sustained winds of 20–30 mph, hundreds of volunteers participated in Clean Ocean Action’s (COA) annual Spring Beach Sweeps on Saturday, marking the 40th anniversary of the statewide cleanup initiative.

Nearly 80 sites across New Jersey, from Essex County to Cape May, saw residents and organizations collect debris while documenting litter types to inform pollution policy. 

The event, delayed until 11 a.m. due to weather, drew schools, scout troops, corporate teams, and municipal leaders. Volunteers removed items ranging from microplastics to larger debris like tires and furniture.

Notable finds, part of COA’s annual “Roster of the Ridiculous,” included a watermelon, traffic cone, and a full can of insect repellent. 

“Every piece of trash picked up is a step toward change,” said Meg Sulzberg, COA’s Plastic Free Sea Coordinator. “The data volunteers collect drives policies that protect our coastlines.”

Executive Director Cindy Zipf highlighted past legislative successes tied to cleanup data, including New Jersey’s Plastic Bag Reduction Act and Styrofoam ban. 

Key participation included 150 volunteers at Sandy Hook, over 80 in Seaside Heights led by students from the Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science, and 100 attendees from Project Rise at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park.

Corporate teams from Bank of America, Target, and Ralph Lauren joined municipal groups, such as the Sea Bright Fire Department, in the effort. 

Sponsors like Bank of America and Target provided logistical and financial support.

Data from the event will be analyzed in COA’s 2025 Annual Report, set for release in early 2026. The 2024 report, published April 8, documented over 100 debris categories tracked during cleanups. 

Clean Ocean Action, a nonprofit founded in 1985, focuses on reducing marine pollution through advocacy and community engagement.

Details on future initiatives are available at CleanOceanAction.org.