Thousands of volunteers have swept across dozens of Jersey Shore beaches as part of an environmental group's annual cleanup program.

Beach Sweeps volunteers
Beach Sweeps volunteers (Clean Ocean Action)
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Clean Ocean Action staged its 29th annual spring beach sweeps Saturday at more than 65 coastal locations.

Volunteers collected, tallied and removed hundreds of harmful and unsightly debris, including various plastics, cigarette butts, shoes and sandals and balloons. They also found an air mattress plug, an unopened gallon of paint, dog tick medicine, and a printer cartridge.

Organizers say the data collected from Saturday's events will be combined with data collected during similar events held last fall, then analyzed and presented in an annual report.

The reports identify pollution problems, educate citizens on the types and quantities of debris and contribute to local and international efforts to combat marine pollution.

 

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