Monitoring Debris on the Delaware

Clean Ocean Action has been coordinating a source track down and litter assessment and removal study in select locations in the tidally-impacted Delaware River from Trenton to West Deptford, NJ since 2016. COA is collaborating with a small group of High School students from Hightstown high school and citizen volunteers to conduct litter assessment and removal annually at the Lamberton Road Site in Trenton, NJ. This spring COA is focused on determining how much debris accumulates at this site by conducting routine periodic clean ups, such as the one held in April six weeks prior to the May 18 cleanup. Since April the amount of debris, including single-use plastics decreased. However, more unattended debris was discovered at a new, third location.

Hightstown HS students uncover a chair at the Lamberton Beach Sweep site on the Delaware River 

Some key stats on what debris were removed: 175 Food/candy wrappers/bags; 157 beverages/soda bottles; 109 Plastic pieces; 102 Caps/lids; 50 Straws/stirrers.