Updated 7:30 p.m.: According to Larry Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, about 50 syringes were among the debris that crews cleaned up from the beaches in Long Beach Island today.
An examination of the syringes confirmed they were washed from storm drains, Hajna said.
The syringes were part of a lengthy washup of eel grass and trash along the beaches from Barnegat Light all the way to Ship Bottom, Hajna said.
"This happens from time to time after a heavy rain, like we had on Wednesday," he said earlier in the afternoon.
Beaches, which reportedly were closed while the debris was removed, were expected to reopen Sunday.
Earlier: Crews are headed out to the beaches on Long Beach Island to clean up trash, including used syringes, that has washed up there today, according to the DEP.
Larry Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, confirmed that debris has washed up on the beaches from Barnegat Light all the way south to Ship Bottom, and that the debris included "some syringes."
"This happens from time to time after a heavy rain, like we had on Wednesday," Hajna said, adding that eel grass was the primary item that washed up.
Local crews were being mobilized to clean up the debris.
He can NOT and must NOT get away with this!
I really can't picture too many people dumping syringes and eel grass in the storm drains that empty into the bay.
Sharps containers always have a bio hazard label on them.
BTW, Is Christie also responsible for the rip tides?
and should be disposed by bringing used to any doctor's office, lab or vet facility for appropriate disposal ... just hope who's responsible get the message this is a serious issue. Many use a nail clipper to cut off the needle-carefully of course ... at least if found the needles are not going to endanger any one ... Bad enough broken beer bottles left overnight by some idiots is bad enough ... I hope each township raises their fees for such monitoring, clean up ... and not allow after 8PM except for fishing folks who are not for a second doing such a disgusting deeds ... my 3-year old daughter laced open her tiny heel when stepping on and empty beer bottle that not only was disposed of on the dunes, it was carelessly broken-smashed, making for a nasty weapon.
SURELY OFF SHORE NYC DUMPING CAN REACH OR ISLAND ... WE NEED "GARBAGE IN ASH OUT" FACILITIES ALL ALONG THE COAST. GARBAGE THAT IS DUMPED IN NO WAY IS SUITABLE FOR SEA-LIFE OR WE COASTAL RESIDENTS ... CAN YOU IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE DUMPED OFF-SHORE???