Such a Waste – Marine Debris in Our Coastal Waters

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Marine debris in our coastal waters is a significant environmental issue. Many groups have been taking action to prevent items from finding their way into marine environments and to remove debris that has already entered marine ecosystems. This webpage is intended to educate the public on marine debris issues and offer solutions on how to reduce and properly dispose of waste.

Marine debris is defined as any consistent processed solid material that is disposed into any marine environment (NOAA, 2024). Marine debris enters waterways, streams, and rivers that lead to coastal estuaries and then ultimately into the ocean. This debris can include materials such as lost fishing gear, abandoned vessels, boat flares, and plastic bags and bottles. There are many ways by which marine debris can become pollution, including littered items on streets, trash blown from dumpsters, abandonment, or improper waste disposal. Upon entering brackish or saltwater ecosystems, materials become weathered down by environmental conditions. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and wave action can fragment plastic materials into smaller pieces until they are eventual micro plastic particles (Tibbetts, 2014).

The best way to prevent marine debris from entering the ocean in the first place is through proper waste management. Locally, Ocean County offers many waste collection opportunities that serve as alternatives to waste entering a landfill or the ocean.

Opportunities in Ocean County

• Monofilament recycling locations – PDF
• Recycle Coach – Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Mgmt.
• Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling – State of New Jersey (PDF)
• Junk Boat Removal – Ocean County Dumpsters and Junk
• Ocean County Flare Recycling – Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Mgmt.
• Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Management
• Ocean County Recycling Guide – Manchester Township (PDF)
• Ocean County Recycling Guide for Vacationers – Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Mgmt.
• Ocean County Recycling Guide for Boat Owners – Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Mgmt.

Paying attention to recycling codes, special waste separation days and drop off options will make the difference of whether the item can be repurposed or not. Also being aware of collection sites at docks and marinas for fishing line, old nets, and trap materials will prevent these excess materials from being lost at sea. Participating in seasonal beach clean ups is an important effort, as well as being mindful of other methods of citizen science and outreach projects.

Local Seasonal Beach Clean-ups and Citizen Science Programs

• Get Involved – Alliance for a Living Ocean
• Citizen Science – Microplastics Monitoring Community Science – Plastic Wave Project
• Beach Sweeps – Clean Ocean Action
• Volunteer – Littoral Society (littoralsociety.org)
• Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project | Marine Debris Program (noaa.gov)
• Volunteer Opportunities — Save Coastal Wildlife

Opportunities in New Jersey for the Public to Properly Dispose of and/or Recycle Items to Help Prevent Marine Debris

Looking to your county and other local state partners for opportunities to recycle is a great way to see what others are doing to make a difference. Efforts include collection of abandoned or broken fish and crustacean traps, abandoned vessel decommissioning and removal, and strategies to target balloon, tire, and cigarette litter.

To fill this gap, we have provided waste collection opportunities within the county and state to educate citizens about options other than solid waste for disposal. The inclusion of these resources will help those interested in better waste management and instill end user responsibility that is often not considered by the producer of common products. Due to the scale of the issue, there are other state initiatives to check out as well:

Program	Coordinating Group
New Jersey Clean Marina Program	NJDEP
Recycling/Disposal of Boats and Jet Skis	Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Mgmt.
Fishing Line (Monofilament) Receptacles	NJ Clean Communities
Balloon Litter and Release Bans	NJ Clean Communities
Cigarette Butts	NJ Clean Communities
New Jersey Clean Communities	NJ Clean Communities
Remove My Boat	Private
Monofilament Fishing Line Recycling	Boat US Foundation
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium	NJ Sea Grant Consortium
Recycling Fishing Line	Take Me Fishing
Derelict Crab Pot Removal	Conserve Wildlife Foundation
Boat/Watercraft Donation Program	Veteran Car Donations
Abandoned Vessel Program	NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
County Recycling Programs	NJ Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey WRRI	Water Resources Research Act Program
Marine Debris Clearinghouse	NOAA
Marine Debris Program	NOAA
Fishing for Energy	National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding	Stockton University
Marine Debris Campaign	Clean Ocean Action

Recommended Practices for Reducing Plastics Pollution in the Ocean

• Prevent plastic from having the ability to enter the ocean in the first place through cutting down on purchasing single use items, recycling, upcycling, proper waste disposal
•  Be aware of local recycling regulations, special waste separation requirements, and clothing donations
•  Use new technologies to sequester microplastics such as laundry ball and dryer filter devices

Additional Resources for Marine Debris Prevention and Removal

• Earth Day Every Day: From Sea to Shining Sea: Microplastics in the Marine Environment – Rutgers Cooperative Extension
• Microplastics: Tiny Particles with Major Impacts – Webinar with Dr. Judith Weis – Rutgers Cooperative Extension
• Single-Use Plastic Bag and Polystyrene Foam Food Service Ban – NJDEP
• The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs – FDA
• Laundry Ball & Filter models to prevent Microfibers – Cora Ball
• PlanetCare Microfober Filters
• “Artificial Root” Microplastic Filter Trap – PolyGone

Check out how other states in the Mid Atlantic are taking action regarding Marine Debris Efforts

• Waste Collection Opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Resources

• Microplastics – Rutgers University Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (marine.rutgers.ed)
• NOAA (2024). What is Marine Debris?
• Tibbetts, John H. (2014). South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. The Global Plastic Breakdown: How Microplastics are Shredding Ocean Health

Produced by Paige Radcliffe (pradcliffe@co.ocean.nj.us) with collaboration from Douglas Zemeckis (zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu) and Steven Yergeau (yergeau@njaes.rutgers.edu).