Clean Ocean Action Needs Helpers for Fall Beach Cleanup at 80 Jersey Shore Spots

The yearly Fall Beach Cleanup hits the Jersey coast this Oct. 18. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., teams will work at 80 sites between Perth Amboy and Cape May.

Workers do more than just pick up trash. They track each item found, creating data that pushes changes in laws. Their counts build yearly reports that shape how states and towns fight beach litter.

The numbers tell quite a story. Last fall, 2,839 people cleared the sand of 124,923 waste items. The haul? A mix of 11,326 food wraps, 4,726 bottles, and 19,591 caps littered across the shore.

In 2024, the trash showed clear patterns. Teams found 1,346 plastic forks and spoons scattered in the sand. They picked up 864 floss picks, 933 vape parts, 544 shiny balloons, 836 bits of box, and 137 shells from guns.

Since its start in 1985, this cleanup effort has swept away over 8 million pieces from New Jersey's coast. That's four decades of work to keep waters clean.

Work sites dot the shore. In Berkeley Township, crews meet at the Amherst Beach lot and Island Beach State Park's first pavilion. Ocean City's team starts at the Music Pier.

Seaside Park splits into three zones: Midway Beach by 6th Lane, Stockton Avenue, and 5th Avenue sand. The cleanup stretches from Ocean Gate to Grant Avenue in Seaside Heights.

Want to help? Sign up first. Head to Clean Ocean Action's site to grab your spot before the big day.

Bring what you'll need: gloves and buckets instead of plastic bags. Wear tough shoes to protect your feet. Don't skip the sunscreen.

Kids need adult supervision if they're under 13. The work goes on, rain or shine.