Medical Waste Causes New Jersey Beaches to Close

Medical Waste Causes New Jersey Beaches to Close



2007 September -   Officials along the Jersey 
shore closed several beaches Sunday after medical waste, including 
syringes, began appearing in the nearshore water and on the sand. Most of 
the waste was found on Monmouth and Ocean county beaches. 
No one has yet identified the source of the waste and there were no 
reports of injuries. State environmental officials are investigating the 
incident. 
A stretch of coastline along Normandy Beach in Ocean County was closed, 
and beaches were closed in Toms River. 
But on a bright and sunny Labor Day, all lifeguarded ocean beaches were 
open. 
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said all Ocean 
County beaches that were closed Sunday afternoon due to trash washing up 
on the beach were reopened Monday morning. 
Monday's regular coastal surveillance flight from Raritan Bay south to 
Barnegat Light found beach and water conditions to be "good." 
Crews from the Toms River Department of Public Works hit the beach at dawn 
and cleaned up all debris. 
Speaking at a Labor Day parade in South Plainfield, Governor Jon Corzine 
said, "We actually think it is a garbage spill, as opposed to medical 
waste. The first issue is protect the public." 

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