As Jersey Shore beach season approaches, the Clean Ocean Action environmental group released a report highlighting the bizarre items found on the state’s beaches last year. Nearly 3,700 volunteers picked up 176,206 items, ranging from common trash like bottle caps and cigarettes to strange items like voodoo dolls, whoopie cushions, and even a severed Barbie head. Among the oddities were boxer shorts, a bra, and a food fryer, prompting questions about who leaves these items behind on public beaches.
Executive director Cindy Zipf described the report as a “guilt list of our region’s worst littering ways,” noting the sheer volume and variety of trash collected over the years. Plastic accounted for nearly 80% of the haul, with common items like bottle caps, lids, and straws making up a significant portion. However, the presence of auto parts like tires, batteries, and an automobile gas tank left volunteers scratching their heads at the audacity of beachgoers who littered such items.
The weird and unusual items left behind on New Jersey’s beaches included personal grooming items like an electric razor and body hair remover, as well as household items like a dustpan, crock pots, and even a small refrigerator. Food remnants like pineapples, a coconut, fortune cookies, and canned tuna were also among the items found. The diversity of trash collected during the beach sweeps demonstrates the unpredictability of what volunteers may encounter during their cleanup efforts.
Clean Ocean Action has been conducting beach sweeps at the beginning and end of the beach season since 1985, amassing a total of nearly 8.5 million items of trash over the years. While the majority of the items collected are recyclable, the extent of littering and the oddity of some items left behind on the beaches continue to astound volunteers. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of proper waste disposal and the need for continued efforts to keep New Jersey’s coastline clean.
The challenge of maintaining clean beaches is ongoing, as evidenced by the strange and sometimes comical items found during the beach sweeps. From severed Barbie heads to jockstraps and fake eyelashes, the variety of trash left behind underscores the need for increased public awareness and responsibility when it comes to preserving the environment. As beach season approaches, efforts to educate beachgoers on the importance of keeping the shores clean and free from litter will be crucial in ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
