Help Clean Up Our Local NJ Beaches During the “Beach Sweeps” on April 11

The Beach Sweeps are held at over 80+ locations throughout New Jersey on Saturday, April 11th, 2026. View the list of sites for the 2026 Spring Beach Sweeps. For more information, visit the Beach Sweeps FAQ page.

In 1985, COA launched the region’s first Beach Sweeps program to rid beaches of unsightly and harmful debris. COA’s Beach Sweeps is one of the longest-running cleanups of its kind in the world.

Volunteers gather from Raritan to Delaware Bays and along the ocean to clean beaches and waterways, as well as underwater sites. They join as groups (community, school, business, and organization), families, or individuals. Participants collect and record valuable data about debris, which is presented in annual reports and used to advance federal, state, and local programs to reduce litter.

Why Get Involved?
Fish, whales, birds, and other animals often mistake litter for food. As a result, animals get entangled in or ingest items, such as plastic bags, cigarette filters, and fishing lines, with deadly results. Cigarette filters mimic fish and have been found in the stomachs of birds and larger fish, blocking and affecting their digestion. Also, the filters are made of plastic fibers and trap carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals that are introduced into animals’ bloodstreams.

Moreover, plastic litter takes a few years to several hundred years to break down, thereby threatening wildlife for decades. Litter in waterways can also foul boat motors and propellers, resulting in costly repairs. Finally, littered beaches can ruin a day at the beach. Garbage slicks and wash-ups close beaches to swimming and are detrimental to tourism and the coastal economy.

How to Get Involved
Beach Sweeps takes place from 9 am to 12:30 pm at most locations. Volunteers can choose from 80+ locations across New Jersey. Registration must be done in advance.

You can register via this link.