EARTH DAY Spirits not Dampened at the 32nd Annual Beach Sweeps!

EARTH DAY Spirits not Dampened! 

Sweeping Success as Thousands Hit the Jersey Shore Beaches

Coastal New Jersey —Most of the earth is ocean, so it makes perfect sense for thousands to flock to the Jersey Shore to help improve and protect that which brings so much joy year round.   Rather than bathing suits and flip-flops, thousands of beach goers donned gloves and work shoes for Clean Ocean Action’s (COA) 32nd Annual Beach Sweeps at over 60 Jersey Shore sites from Middlesex to Cape May County. Dedicated volunteers spent the day cleaning, collecting and calculating the debris removed from each site.  More and more of the state is participating with sites along the Delaware and in Essex County joining in.  For complete list of locations click here.  For photos for use from Beach Sweeps locations statewide visit Clean Ocean Action’s Facebook page here.

The data produced from this event is publicized in an annual report that provides evidence about the type and quantity of debris found along beaches which is used to educate and motivate for solutions to marine pollution.

“The Beach Sweeps never cease to amaze me! Volunteers from the tall and the small to the young and the old, are an inspiration for us to continue to do what we do. COA’s daily work is to provide and protect our oceans, bays, waterways and beaches,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. “Volunteers from schools, churches, businesses, organizations, corporations and teams continue to get ‘down and dirty’ to rid our beaches of the litter that has accumulated all winter. This year was no different! Volunteers are even resolved to make personal changes in their daily lives in order to reduce ocean pollution. In a perfect world we wouldn’t need to come back for Beach Sweeps in the fall but until that happens, we will see you in October and remember to pick up debris on every trip to the beach.”

 

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr, (6^th District) greeted the crowd of 1000 at Sandy Hook saying “What you are doing is so important.  The work you do here today has a real impact and has led to the passage of laws such as the Microbead Ban Act which goes into effect this year.”

Valerie Montecalvo, President, of Bayshore Recycling Family of Companies reminded everyone that it was 30 years ago that Governor Tom Kean signed the NJ Mandatory Recycling Act.  “NJ is the nation’s #1 recycler, but we need to do more.” Debris removed by volunteers at Sandy Hook was sorted at Bayshore Recycling Family of Companies to maximize recycling opportunities.

“Seeing the community come together in order to better the environment is truly a beautiful thing,” said Amy Arietta, Program and Administrative Coordinator. “This event is a chance for the general public to become a part of something much larger than themselves. Individuals are scientists for the day as they assist COA in collecting data that will eventually be utilized for scientific purposes. Beach Sweeps is a volunteer driven event – they are the beating heart of our program.”

  

“I've loved seeing so many people show up to the Beach Sweeps ready to make a change. What we are doing today is so important.” – Sierra Byrne, Sandy Hook Beach Sweep Coordinator with Marine Academy of Science and Technology.

Zoe Sucato, also of the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, said, “It is so important to stop plastic pollution in the ocean.  Sea cucumbers are amazing squishy creatures and they eat bits of plastic and it is killing them.  All marine life is threatened by plastic and we need to stop this cycle.”

COA Beach Captains are the champions.  They engage with the local community and direct the hub of volunteers and individual participants at their location. These captains lead the cleanup effort at each site and are an indispensable part to which we owe the overall success of the program.

Selected totals from Sandy Hook included: Plastic Pieces- 9,675; Bottle Caps- 7,074; Straws- 3,041; Candy Wrappers- 6,854; Syringes- 51; Balloons- 180; Foam pieces- 4,621; Plastic beverage bottles- 1,406; Glass bottles- 426.

Throughout Beach Sweeps, volunteers are encouraged to note any out-of-the-ordinary finds. COA labels these finds as “The Roster of the Ridiculous”. Some of the items catalogued today included: license plate, baby car seat, scarecrow, bag of drugs, stuffed toy bunny, bird cage, charred bar stool.

With gratitude, Clean Ocean Action thanks: AVEDA, Bank of America, Comcast, KOHL’s, OceanFirst Foundation and ShopRite for their 2017 Beach Sweeps Statewide Sponsorship. The Spring Beach Sweeps are made possible by support from many generous sponsors.

“Wakefern Food Corp/ShopRite is pleased with our 15+ year partnership with Clean Ocean Action (COA). As an environmentally and community oriented business, ShopRite respects when an organization can bring about effective change by involving more and more community member volunteers each year.  The COA Beach Sweeps event brings about the improvement of an important ecological habitat, and when groups of like-minded people come together to solve a problem or improve their environment, they can make a difference and accomplish what an individual could not do alone.  We are proud to be a part of it!” Suzanne Forbes, Corporate Communications, Environmental Affairs Administrator, Wakefern Food Corporation.

“At Aveda, we care for the world we live in.  Every April we celebrate Earth Month and for the mast 8 years we have been focused on clean water projects around the world, to date we have raised $38 million. Together in partnership with Clean Ocean Action they help us educate our Salon network, Experience Centers and guests on how they can take an active for protecting our water locally,” said Eva Van Anglen with Aveda. “We’re really excited to clean up the beach, we constantly strive to live by Aveda’s mission and it’s a reminder about how important the environment is. It is Earth Day every day for us.”

For review the results from the most recent and previous Beach Sweeps, visit cleanoceanaction.org.

Brushing with Beads

A daily ritual that cleans your teeth and keeps your breath fresh could be wreaking havoc on our waterways and ocean. Toothpaste and other products have started popping-up on store shelves containing microbeads, minuscule polyethylene ‘plastic’ beads. These beads are being advertised as exfoliants in skin care products. In the case of toothpaste they are used as an abrasive.

The problem is these plastic microbeads found in toothpaste do not dissolve before, during, or after their use. This can cause serious problems to your health, and our waterways. The health risks are due to the fact that a portion of the microbeads remains within the mouth and can become embedded underneath the gum line. Dentists around the country began to worry that these beads were causing more harm than good. During patient visits, dentists and hygienists found the microbeads stuck in crevices between the teeth and gums. This raised concerns because the beads could trap bacteria in the gums leading to gingivitis, and possibly overtime cause periodontal disease.

These beads are also polluting our waterways. Every time you brush your teeth, these tiny beads go down the drain and travel through sewers to a wastewater treatment plant. Due to their microscopic size, microbeads are far too small to be filtered by wastewater treatment facilities and as a result are discharged into waterways. A report released by the New York Attorney General’s office estimates that the state of New York discharges 19 tons of microbeads into its waterways annually!

This pollution caught the attention of advocacy groups and scientists, who have raised these concerns to elected officials. States, including New Jersey, began to tackle the issue by passing laws regulating microbeads. Federally, New Jersey’s Congressman Frank Pallone introduced the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which prohibits the sale or distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. This bill quickly passed the House of Representatives, unanimously passed the Senate, and was recently signed into law by President Obama in December 2015!

Although microbeads are banned for the future, products containing microbeads will remain on the shelf until 2017. Until then it is up to you to be a conscious shopper. Read the ingredients list on the box carefully, if you see polyethylene or polypropylene on the list of ingredients it means that product contains microbeads. Luckily, there are plenty of other natural alternatives to keep your breath fresh, your teeth white, and your waterways healthy. Happy brushing! 

12 Steps to Kick your Plastic Habit!

 

Clean Ocean Action’s

12 Steps to Kick Your Plastic Habit

Our use of single-use plastic is an addiction and the harmful effects reach around the globe.  As a petro-chemical, every piece of plastic is related to oil drilling, pollution from refineries, and more chemical contamination.  However, the most visible impact is litter found in every habitat on the planet, especially waterways.  Today, the ocean is awash in plastics, killing or harming marine life by ingestion or entanglement.  While some plastics do have a role in society, we must reduce our overuse.  You can help.  Use this 12-Step Guide to help break your addiction to single-use plastic. Integrate these steps into your lifestyle and reduce your plastic waste.

1.        Recognize your plastic habit.  Understanding your use of disposables is the first step to reducing usage.  Look at your trash. Take special note of items with excess packaging, or any items that are single-use.  Make a list of how many disposable items are in your trash.  Make a personal goal to reduce or ban those items.

2.       Know the numbers.  Recycle more plastics by familiarizing yourself with the recycling number system.  The “chasing arrow” indicates that it can be recycled and the number inside the arrows indicates the type of plastic from which the material is made.  “1” (PETE) and “2” (HDPE) are the most widely recyclable. Check with your municipality to see if they accept other numbers.

3.      Be straw-free.  Americans use around 500 million straws a day! Just say “hold the straw.” There are also plenty of reusable straw options, such as glass, stainless steel, and bamboo.

4.       Ban the bead.  Avoid using any products that contain microbeads, such as the ingredients polyethylene and polypropylene.

5.     BYOB.  Bring your own Bag and Bottle! Putting a reusable bag in your car, briefcase, backpack or purse, and carrying a reusable bottle are easy ways to start plastic-free habits.    

                                

6.      Fork it over.  Don’t accept plastic ware for take-out. Bring your own silverware.  Better yet pack your own meal in a reusable lunch box/bag, and use reusable sandwich bags or containers. 

7.        DIY at home.  Clean your house using products you already own (lemons, vinegar, baking soda) instead of buying harsh chemicals in plastic containers.  Look on-line for “recipes”.

8.      Can it.  Choose cans over plastic. Most cans contain 50 percent or more recycled aluminum. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days.  Better yet, use your reusable bottle!

9.      Be a smart shopper.  Look before you buy.  Avoid items with excess packaging and disposable towelettes. Use a sponge or rag instead. Be creative.  

10.   Support action.  Stay informed about plastic and microplastic policies, and take action to support these policies.  Contact COA for current actions.

11.     Rally more converts.  Help friends and family understand the importance of reducing plastic usage, and show them available alternatives.  Tell us about your progress!

12.    Join the campaign.  Supporting COA’s Crowdrise campaign for microplastic research will ensure the availability of ongoing information and resolutions for a clean, healthy ocean.

Share with us your progress on social media:

Please like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleanOcean

Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleanOcean

Show us some love on Instagram: https://instagram.com/cleanoceanaction/

                   

www.CleanOceanAction.org

Hats off to the C.O.A.S.T. Campaign

Summer is in full-swing, which means it is coasting time!  There’s nothing more refreshing than a beautiful beach day at the Jersey shore, which is where you’ll be seeing our volunteer advocates helping out to prevent ocean pollution.

This summer, COA will be hosting the 26^th annual Clean Ocean Action Shore Tips (C.O.A.S.T.) campaign to help educate citizens about current ocean pollution issues. As in previous years, you will find our volunteers at information tables on beaches, beach clubs, and festivals throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties on weekends in July and August.  If you are interested in having a C.O.A.S.T. table on your beach or at your festival, please feel free to contact Melissa. 

We know you’ve been waiting for them, so the C.O.A.S.T. campaign for 2015 will be featuring new merchandise: COA hats!  The hats will be available in multiple colors and will display our vibrant logo.  Stop by one of our tables to pick up one of your very own.

The (tentative) weekend table schedule is as follows:

June 27-28: Bradley Beach LobsterFest

July 4-5: Ship Ahoy Beach Club

July 11-12: Chapel Beach Club, Driftwood Beach Club, Sands Beach Club, Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club

July 18-19: Atlantic Highlands Film One Festival, Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival, Promenade Beach Club

July 25-26: Sea Bright Public Beach, Edgewater Beach Club, Loch Arbor Public Beach, Bradley Beach Public Beach 3

August 1-2: Brick Public Beach 3, Long Branch Public Beach, Highlands Clam Festival, Seaside Park Boardwalk

August 7: Beach Ball-A-Palooza

August 9-10: Lavallette Public Beach, Elberon Bathing Club, Avon-by-the-Sea Public Beach, Allenhurst Public Beach

August 15-16: Jenkinson’s Pavilion, Ocean Grove, Island Beach State Park

August 29: Long Branch Jazz and Blues

To volunteer at a C.O.A.S.T. table, please call Melissa at (732) 872-0111 or email her at Coast@CleanOceanAction.org.  We hope to see many supporters on the beaches and at festivals this summer! Stop by a C.O.A.S.T. table to learn about ocean pollution issues, sign important petitions, donate to our cause, buy popular environmentally-themed merchandise and learn how to become more involved with Clean Ocean Action! Together we can achieve a cleaner ocean.

Just Say No Litter-ally!

Look around you. Do you spot any plastic? We are surrounded by plastic, from plastic water bottles to plastic toys. It is hard to go a day without using something made out of plastic. What was once a breakthrough invention has now become a problem, both a big and microscopic.

A study done by 5 Gyres in December found that the ocean contains over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic! This includes microplastics, pieces of plastic that are less than half a centimeter. This tremendous amount of plastic is polluting our environment, our waterways, and potential harming our health.

In a world littered and addicted to plastic, what do you do? It may seem over whelming, but there are plenty of ways to break this plastic addiction. Just like there is tons of plastic, there is lots of alternatives! We have gotten caught up in this use once and toss society, it is time to choose to reuse.

Here are a few items to help rid you of plastic addiction:

Water bottles. Did you know it takes three times the water to make the bottle as it does to fill it? The water bottle has become the staple item to use once and discard. A reusable water bottle, whether glass or aluminum, will help reduce plastic pollution, while also saving water and fossil fuels.

Plastic bags. Countries and states are putting in place plastic bag bans or fees to help reduce the amount of plastic bags used. This is for good reason since around 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year! These bags may seem convenient, but they are becoming dangerous to our environment, especially to animals and marine life. The alternatives are endless, from canvas bags to a bag once made out of plastic water bottles. There are big bags for grocery shopping or mini-bags to keep in your purse or pocket for a trip to the store.

Straws. In 2014 during our Spring & Fall Beach Sweeps, 18,372 straws and stirrers were picked up! A disposable straw on average is said to be used for a mere twenty minutes, while those coffee stirrers are used for a just a few seconds. Restaurants are starting to tackle this issue by issuing request only straw policies. When you dine out remember to ask your server to hold the straw. Also there are also plenty of reusable options for at home or at work including glass, stainless steel, and bamboo. Carry it with you to use.

Beauty. We all have heard the saying ‘it hurts to be beautiful’, however some beauty regimes are now inflicting pain on the planet. Microbeads, the tiny plastic beads found in face washes, body scrubs, and tooth paste, are ending up in our waterways. States, including New Jersey, are banning the use of microbeads. On a federal level, Congressman Pallone from New Jersey’s 6^th congressional district, introduced legislation, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2014, in June of 2014, that would ban the use of these microbeads.. In 2015, Congressman Pallone, along with Congressman Fred Upton, reaffirmed his belief is this topic by introducing the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015.

While although the NJ microbead ban is a step in the right direction, it contains a loophole that would allow the personal care industry to incorporate "biodegradable" plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA).  PLA is able to disintegrate, however, only within municipal composting facilities in high heat environments. Microbeads are too tiny to be filtered within wastewater treatment plants so they'll still end up in our waterways and won't biodegrade since our waters don’t meet the heat requirements needed to degrade. It’s important for the public to understand the whole story and know how to properly advocate for such legislation.

In addition to legislation, companies are also banning the use of microbeads, such as Johnson & Johnson and Unilever. However, there are other companies, such as Aveda, who have never incorporated microbeads into their products. Longtime supporters of Clean Ocean Action, Aveda has continued to understand and support clean water initiatives.

These beads may ‘exfoliate’ your skin, but they are wreaking havoc in our waters. If you want to avoid using such products on your skin, look for polyethylene and polypropylene under the ingredients list. There are also plenty of other alternatives including DIY salt scrubs and body washes.

Clean Ocean Action works tirelessly to protect our ocean and marine life from plastic debris. We recently launched the first microplastics research study in New Jersey to document the scope and magnitude of microplastics on New Jersey beaches, waterways, coastline, and in marine life. Even with the Beach Sweeps and microplastics research it is still up to you to reduce your plastic pollution footprint! For more information please visit our website cleanoceanaction.org

2014 Beach Sweep Dirty Dozen – Top 12 items found

For thirty years, Clean Ocean Action (COA) has been scouring the beaches of New Jersey for marine debris, which then gets compiled into annual reports showing the type and amount of debris collected. Last year nearly 7,000 volunteers took to the beaches and bays collecting and recording what they found. The findings are compiled in the 2014 Beach Sweeps Annual Report, highlighting the Dirty Dozen, Roster of the Ridiculous, and the totals for over 90 items of marine debris collected by volunteers last year. Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps started at Sandy Hook in 1985 with 75 volunteers and has become New Jersey’s largest environmental event, with thousands of citizens search and clean nearly the entire coastline and bay beaches.

In 2014, close to 7,000 volunteers collected, tallied, and removed over 315,000 pieces of debris from New Jersey’s shoreline during Clean Ocean Action’s 29th Annual Beach Sweeps. The majority of the debris removed was disposable plastics. Plastic, including foam, represents 76.9% of the total waste found. The evidence is clear: disposable plastic items continue to litter beaches, threaten marine life, and impact water quality.  

Dirty Dozen – Top 12 Items Found:

1. Plastic Pieces – 40,880 
   
2. Cigarette Filters – 30,241
3. Plastic Caps/Lids – 29,804
4. Food Candy Wrappers/Bag – 27,381
5. Straws/Stirrers – 18,372
6. Foam Pieces – 13,050
7. Glass Pieces – 12,703
8. Plastic Beverages/Soda Bottles – 11,775
9. Lumber Pieces – 9,235
10. Plastic Store/Shopping Bags – 8,037
11. Cigar Tips – 6,366
12. Paper Pieces – 5,560

Pollution continues to flow in from many land point and non-point sources in the New York City and New Jersey metropolitan area. Over the past four years, small plastic pieces have consistently placed in the top two types of items found during Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps. In 2014, plastic pieces ranked number one.

Always remember REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE! Reusable bottles, straws, and shopping bags would greatly reduce the amount of plastic we use. Always refuse or reuse when you can, but if that is not an option always recycle!

Don’t forget to join us for the 30th Annual Spring Beach Sweeps Saturday April 25^th from 9 AM to 12:30 PM at over 70 locations around New Jersey. Visit www.cleanoceanaction.org for more information and how to register!