Call For Volunteers: Belmar Beach Sweeps
- Belmar Beachcomber Blog
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
The coastal community of Belmar, New Jersey, is one of more than 80 locations seeking volunteers for the Clean Ocean Action Fall Beach Sweeps. The beach cleanup will take place Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at all sites statewide. This is a rain-or-shine event.
In addition to three sites in Belmar (3rd Avenue and 16th Avenue beaches, as well as L Street beach at Maclearie Park on Route 35), nearby Jersey Shore towns involved in the cleanup effort include Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Manasquan, Ocean Grove, Sea Girt, and Spring Lake.
This family-friendly event is a great way to enjoy time outdoors while also doing something good to help sea life and the environment. Volunteers may participate as individuals or in small groups. All volunteers must pre-register separately for the event and sign an electronic waiver on the Clean Ocean Action website. You will be asked to show your confirmation email upon your arrival at the beach cleanup site. Those who have not pre-registered will need to register and sign the waiver via their smartphone the day of the event.
Bring gloves and wear shoes or boots that are sturdy enough for walking in the sand. Refreshments will not be provided, so bring your own snacks and water. The Clean Ocean Action is also encouraging volunteers to bring their own buckets for trash collection to minimize the use of plastic bags.
Read the full list of Clean Ocean Action frequently asked questions for this event.
During previous Beach Sweeps in Belmar, volunteers have included students and scout troops from Jackson, Freehold, Howell, and Tinton Falls, New Jersey — and even a busload of high schoolers from Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Making A Difference
According to the Clean Ocean Action, over 176,510 volunteers have eliminated more than 8.7 million pieces of trash from New Jersey coastlines and waterways since the inception of this pollution-prevention program in 1985.
Key findings from the Clean Ocean Action's 2024 Beach Sweeps Report:
During the COA’s 2024 spring and fall cleanup events, 6,835 volunteers joined the effort along 83 sites along the Jersey coast. They collected and disposed of more than 276,899 total items across all cleanup sites.
Single-use plastic shopping bags dropped to their lowest-ever percentage (1%). Plastic stirrers and straws also decreased significantly from prior years.
83% of trash collected in 2024 was composed of plastic and foam.
Significant decreases were reported in the number of plastic shopping bags, paper pieces, straws and stirrers, balloons, and plastic bottle caps and lids.
Top offenders on the COA's "Dirty Dozen" list continue to be single-use plastic items, including plastic bottle caps (17.56%), plastic pieces (10.83%), and cigarette filters (4.71%).
Newly reported items include plastic dental floss picks and doggie doo-doo bags.
RELATED: Explore The Belmar Treasure Trail
In an effort to prevent ocean pollution, Belmar enacted a ban on single-use plastic bags, which took effect May 1, 2019. In 2021, Belmar officials subsequently implemented a town-wide ban on styrofoam takeout food containers and plastic straws in 2021. Bait shops may still use plastic bags, and straws are available upon customer request only.
Belmar was also first shore town to prohibit smoking on the beach, which is now banned on every beach in New Jersey. A statewide ban on plastic bags, paper grocery bags, and foam containers went into effect on May 4, 2022. This state law supersedes all local ordinances.
In addition, beginning May 2024, New Jersey will no longer allow use of long-handled disposable polystyrene foam spoons, portion cups of two ounces or less for foods requiring lids, raw meat and fish trays, and prepackaged items with polystyrene foam for food service. Read more about "Bag Up New Jersey."
Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps
outreach@cleanoceanaction.org
732-872-0111
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