Uncooked Ham, Bedpan Among Bizarre Trash Found On NJ Beaches

NEW JERSEY — A gallon of maple syrup, a Christmas wreath and a bedpan were among hundreds of bizarre trash items collected on New Jersey beaches last year, according to Clean Ocean Action's 2024 Beach Sweeps report.

According to the report, more than 6,800 volunteers combed 83 sites in 2024, removing 276,899 pieces of trash from Garden State beaches.

Clean Ocean Action launched the Beach Sweeps program in 1985 as a way to rid beaches of unsightly and harmful debris. Since the group's inception, volunteers have removed more than 8 million pieces of trash.

According to the list, the 12 most commonly collected items include:

1. Plastic bottle caps and lids
2. Plastic pieces
3. Food, candy wrappers and bags
4. Foam pieces
5. Straws and stirrers
6. Cigarette filters
7. Plastic beverage bottles
8. Other plastics
9. Plastic cap rings
10. Cigar tips
11. Metal beverage cans
12. Paper pieces

In its report, Clean Ocean Action also a "Roster of the Ridiculous," or a list of hundreds of the wackiest items found on beaches. The list includes sports equipment, various food items, toys, holiday decor, car parts, cosmetics and more.

Check out the full report and the "Roster of the Ridiculous" online.