Volunteers for the cleanup sign up at one of the Environmental Commission tables.
By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City’s community beach cleanup brought out families and participants from area businesses and organizations with one thought in mind on Saturday -- making sure the resort’s shoreline is as litter-free as possible.
The event, in its 37th year, joins those who appreciate the environment and want to dedicate a day – or part of a day – to cleaning up the beaches and areas around the dunes and walkways.
It is organized each year by the city’s Environmental Commission in partnership with the state group Clean Ocean Action. A second cleanup is held in the fall.
“I think this year’s cleanup is great. They always are,” Annette Lombardo, chairwoman of the Environmental Commission, said as she sat at one of the commission tables filled with turtle crossing signs for people's lawns and information about a local tree raffle.
“We have around 200 participants who signed up," Lombardo said of the cleanup. "A lot of families, school kids and different organizations participate each year. It is important for the community.”
Volunteers for the cleanup sign up at one of the Environmental Commission tables.
Christine Czaja, of Ocean View, and her children, Colton, 4, and Skylar, 11, participated in the cleanup for less than an hour and had already amassed a garbage bag filled with litter.
Wearing vinyl gloves and carrying large plastic bags, one for litter and the other for recycling, they got to work quickly and got a lot accomplished in little time.
“We picked up a lot of cigarette butts, soda cans, plastic bags, a balloon and ribbons,” Czaja said as she and her children sorted through the items. “We even found a piece of lumber.”
This was the first time they participated in the cleanup, Czaja said. But it won’t be their last.
“Today is Earth Day. It’s our ocean and our environment. Sea life will eat this,” Czaja said of the balloons and other trash. “It’s important to remind people to clean up after themselves when they come to the beach to help protect marine life.”
Skylar said she enjoyed participating in the cleanup.
“I feel good,” she said.
Colton said he had a lot of fun.
“I found a clam shell!” he exclaimed about one of the interesting non-litter finds.
Christine Czaja, of Ocean View, and her children, Colton and Skylar, display some of their finds from cans to plastic bags.
Maria Andrews, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Environmental Commission, said that the cleanups are great events.
The fact that it fell on Earth Day on Saturday made it extra special, she noted.
The cleanup was originally scheduled for earlier in the month, but inclement weather led to its postponement two times prior to Saturday's event.
While plastics, paper and other trash seem to be in large quantity as litter picked up at the annual cleanup, cigarette butts rank up there as well.
That is despite a statewide smoking ban that took effect on New Jersey beaches and public parks in January of 2019.
Participants in the cleanup found cigarette butts on the beaches, the pathways to the beaches and around the dunes.
Tina McGarvey, of Sea Isle, scanned the beach at 40th Street and discovered some litter. She stopped and scooped it into a bag.
“I found a lot of cigarette butts and plastic today,” she said. “Truthfully, it feels nice to be able to help out in my community. I know many residents in Sea Isle participate in the cleanup.”
Wendy and Steve Bicknell, of Egg Harbor Township, search the dunes and find plenty of cigarette butts and pieces of plastic.
Wendy and Steven Bicknell, of Egg Harbor Township, participate in the cleanup every year. Wendy works at 1st Bank of Sea Isle City – one of the businesses involved in the cleanup this year.
“People are messy. We are finding a lot of cigarette butts, bags, paper and plastic,” Wendy said.
Steven added, “I feel like we have found hundreds of cigarette butts.”
They also found some other types of litter.
“We found a flip flop, balloon lines, all things that are bad for the environment,” Wendy said, adding that it was a good feeling to help make the beaches a bit cleaner.
Cigarette butts are among the litter found during Saturday's cleanup.
