Medical Waste, Trash Washes Ashore, Closes N.J. Beaches

Monday, September 3rd 2007, 12:41 pm

By: News On 6

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Several beaches along the Jersey Shore were closed during part of the busy holiday weekend because medical waste and other trash had washed ashore, authorities said.

The beaches were all reopened Monday, said Elaine Makutura, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The source of the waste _ which beachgoers said included syringes, tampon applicators and gauze _ was not immediately known, and there were no reports of injuries.

Most of the waste was found on beaches and in the water off Monmouth and Ocean counties, authorities said.

An eight-block stretch of coastline along Normandy Beach in Ocean County was closed shortly after the first waves of trash were reported Sunday.