The Voices of Union County NJ

[St. Paul]

Trash washes up, forces beach closures at Shore
by The Associated Press
Sunday September 02, 2007, 11:27 PM


Several beaches along the Jersey Shore were closed today after medical waste and other trash started washing ashore, authorities said.

The source of the waste -- which beachgoers said included syringes, tampon applicators, gauze and other debris -- was not immediately known, and there were no reports of injuries. Most of the waste was found on beaches and in the waters off Monmouth and Ocean counties, authorities said.

An eight-block stretch of coastline along Normandy Beach in Ocean County was closed shortly after the first waves of trash were reported at about 2 p.m., and officials said it was not known when the beaches would be allowed to reopen.

State environmental officials were notified about the problem and were involved in the investigation to determine the source of the waste and who was responsible for it.

Beaches along the shore have been crowded this holiday weekend, and officials and businesses in the affected towns were concerned that the closures would spur tourists and others to head home early.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/09/trash_washes_up_forces_beach_c.html