EPIC WIN FOR THE OCEAN, WILDLIFE, & PUBLIC HEALTH!

 New Jersey—You Did It! New Law Passed to Curb Single-Use Waste

Did you hear that? It was the sound of marine mammals and other wildlife jumping for joy now that NJ Governor Murphy signed the strongest, most comprehensive law (S864) in the United States to reduce single-use waste, including harmful plastic items. Often, animals mistakenly ingest or get entangled in plastic items littered in the environment and suffer the consequences, which are sometimes lethal.

“It’s a good day for marine critters and the power of the people,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action (COA). “For over 35 years, thousands of COA’s Beach Sweep volunteers have collected over 7.2 million pieces of trash, mostly plastic, off NJ’s beaches. Thanks to Governor Murphy and the NJ Legislature, we’ve successfully drawn a line in the sand and made NJ a world leader in reducing the plastic plague on this marvel of a planet.”

In an official news release, NJ Governor Murphy said, “Plastic bags are one of the most problematic forms of garbage, leading to millions of discarded bags that stream annually into our landfills, rivers, and oceans…With today’s historic bill signing, we are addressing the problem of plastic pollution head-on with solutions that will help mitigate climate change and strengthen our environment for future generations.”  

In addition to 35 years of beach litter data from our Beach Sweeps program, COA collaborated with numerous groups and citizens to establish and support a law to reduce single-use waste littered throughout the state. COA also actively worked with municipalities to enact single-use waste ordinances, of which there were over 55 municipalities with such ordinances.

The law, which goes into effect in spring 2022, bans single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service ware, allows plastic straws on demand, and phases-out paper bags at large grocery stores. Residents and businesses have 18 months to 2 years to plan for the law when it goes into effect.

Now it is up to all of us to make small changes in our daily lives: bring reusable bags, skip the straw, and use the more eco-friendly and public health-friendly food ware alternatives currently available. Less plastics mean less fossil fuels used to make these items, less stuff to clog landfills for decades, and less litter lurking in our environment, posing harm to wildlife.

Congratulations to all who worked to support this statewide effort to reduce single-use waste, a true-blue win for all. Now get your reusable carry-out items ready, and perhaps buy reusable items for holiday gifts to get people started on their plastic-free journeys!

 

The Ocean is Calling: Celebrating 35 Years of Beach Sweeps

On Thursday, October 22, viewers tuned-in to COA’s festive virtual celebration, “The Ocean is Calling.” The event featured true-blue friends from COA’s rich history in celebration of 35 Years of Beach Sweeps. Presenting sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka kicked-off the 21+ evening by making a toast with the event’s signature cocktail, The American Mule, as viewers settled-in with their own cocktails to hear the story of COA's origin through the comfort of their own viewing screens. 

 

 

Presenting Sponsor Tito's Handmade Vodka viewing the event

The evening's Emcee was Tim McLoone, an early supporter of COA, founder of Holiday Express,  restaurateur, and track star (to name a few of his many talents).  Tim highlighted the connection between his restaurant business and a healthy, thriving ocean, and said of COA’s Executive Director during the poor state of local water quality in the 1980s, “Cindy just dug in and decided she was going to do something about it with all of her friends and supporters."

The Ocean is Calling event featured an online silent auction with items donated from generous friends of the ocean. Auction items included a private cocktail cruise from Chick Cunningham of Carriage House Marina and Doug Douty of Lusty Lobster; as well a Private Chef-Led Artisanal Pizza Making Extravaganza in the home of COA Board Member Valerie Montecalvo. Other exclusive auction experiences included a private dinner in the home of world renowned Chef David Burke (wine pairings alone valued at $2000), exquisite art, an electric bike, a private whale watching tour, dog training lessons, family portraits, holiday decor, and more! The auction raised over $16,000 with the event overall raising over $77,000.

Viewers heard from Beach Captains: Crystal DeCaro, Ortley Beach Captain with her pet mini pig Hamlette; and Tyler Thompson, Leonardo Beach Captain.

The evening honored First Lady Tammy Murphy for her Climate Change Education Initiatives, including successfully making New Jersey the first state in the nation to incorporate climate change education across its K-12 learning standards, as well as urging reduction of single use plastics.

 

Crystal DeCaro, Ortley Beach Captain with her pet mini pig Hamlette

Board Member and Event Co-Chair Bonnie Torcivia thanked donors and supporters and introduced Board President Leo Gasienica and his wife Kathleen, also long-time beach captains. Captain Bill Hudec shared his experiences sailing around the world and the importance of a clean ocean. He noted the increase of marine life thriving along the New Jersey Coast since COA was founded.

The evening concluded with artists Lucy Kalian and Stella Ryan presenting the event’s featured artwork, a mermaid crafted from litter found during the Beach Sweeps, and Marina Owner Chick Cunningham with fish monger Doug Douty (Lusty Lobster) celebrating a clean ocean. 

 

The evening honored First Lady Tammy Murphy for her Climate Change Education Initiatives

Thanks to the Virtual Event Committee: Co-Chairs Bonnie Torcivia and Kathleen Gasienica; Lydia Bagarozza, Andrea Bonfiglio, Carrie Christensen, Manda Gorsegner, Ann Jordan, Etta Kelly, B. Mahon, Barbara Murphy, Mary Thompson

Waves of Thanks to Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: Tito's Handmade Vodka; Siren Song: Liz and Charlie Komar; Blue Whale: Bonnie Torcivia, The McManus Family, Lucy Kalian, Tim and Jane Orr, Robbyn and Joe O'Neill, Shorepoint Distributors; Dolphin: OceanFirst Foundation, Trudy and Charlie Parton, Tommy's Tavern & Tap, Nancy and Tom Gravina; Striper: Thompson Memorial Home, Litwin and Provence, Peeka and Art Tildesley, Jill Kerwick and Artie Kontos, Mary-Beth and Jerry Radke, and Geri Skirkanich

 

Sponsors getting ready to enjoy "The Ocean is Calling" virtual celebration of
35 Years of Beach Sweeps with their party packs!

World Oceans Day: A Social Media Splash!

Each year on June 8th, World Oceans Day is internationally celebrated to remind people of the major role that oceans play in their everyday lives. While Clean Ocean Action treats everyday like it is World Oceans Day, we could never miss an opportunity to further celebrate and educate! Throughout World Oceans Day, COA posted a series of short, inspiring videos to our social media accounts for our viewers to learn, celebrate, and remind them of their various connections to the ocean. 

From 7:30am to 8pm, the videos began with a peaceful sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, ended with sunset colors over the ocean, and had ocean-related fun in-between. Joining our celebration were some of our favorite local ocean advocates, enthusiasts, and experts. Kathleen Gasienica and David Grant took viewers beachcombing at Sandy Hook, and searching for horseshoe crabs on nearby shores. Further down the coast, Bryan Zinski connected viewers with the ocean with surfing in Asbury Park. It truly was a splash!

Waves of thanks to Kathleen, David, Bryan, and to all who tuned-in from home to celebrate. COA also thanks Jersey Shore-based CBD For Life for hosting a sale on World Oceans Day to benefit COA. Remember to help keep our oceans clean so that they can continue to support life for generations to come!

NJ Bill to Require Recycled Content

On June 17, COA’s Policy Attorney Peter Blair, Esq., testified virtually before the NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Senate Bill No. 2515, which would create recycled content requirements for several items sold in the state (i.e., plastic containers, glass containers, paper carryout bags, reusable carryout bags made of plastic film, and plastic trash bags). This legislation will help ensure the development of a market for post-consumer recycled content, and thereby limit the need for newly produced plastic, and help ensure more plastic is routed to recycling centers, and not the ocean.

While COA is encouraged by and supports this legislation, we strongly advocate that it be a part of a legislative package that includes other plastic reduction measures. This legislation is a needed step that will make recycling more meaningful in New Jersey and help increase the public’s level of trust in the process of recycling. To read COA’s testimony, click here.