By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials welcomed residents and volunteers from across New Jersey to the Clean Ocean Action Fall Beach Sweeps at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy.
New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin participated in the event, underscoring the importance of protecting New Jersey’s shoreline and preserving the health of its coastal ecosystems, MCPO officials say. 
According to Middlesex County officials, volunteers spread out across the entire beach to collect and catalog litter as part of a statewide cleanup organized by Clean Ocean Action. There were over 80 beach sweep sites across the state.
Now in its 40th year, Clean Ocean Action’s Beach Sweeps program — the longest-running coastal cleanups in the world — has removed 8.7 million pieces of debris from New Jersey’s shores while gathering valuable data that supports long-term coastal protection policies and environmental stewardship efforts, MCPO officials stated. 
At Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, Middlesex County’s Office of Parks and Recreation coordinated the local effort, which drew volunteers from across the County and the surrounding region, MCPO officials said. 
Middlesex County officials say that members of the Middlesex County Youth Conservation Corps and the Open Space team coordinated the event and were on-site to assist and guide participants throughout the morning.
In addition to the beach sweep, Middlesex County will host a Fall Trails Day on Saturday, November 15, at Davidson’s Mill Pond Park in South Brunswick, inviting volunteers to assist with trail maintenance and habitat improvement projects, MCPO officials said. 
For more information on upcoming environmental volunteer opportunities in Middlesex County, visit middlesexcountynj.gov.