New Jersey’s “Roster of the Ridiculous”

In 2004, 4,078 unusual items were collected by Beach Sweep volunteers from New Jersey's beaches. Here is a list of items designated by the volunteers as the "most unusual". To view the full list, see the report here

Wash-n-Wear (500)

182 Socks, 78 Shirts, 65 Hats & Caps, 43 Cloth Gloves,

27 Underwear, 25 Dryer Sheets, 19 Pants/Shorts,

9 Amusement Park Wrist Bands, 9 Clothing Belts,

7 Buttons, 6 Headbands, 5 Jackets, 5 Shoelaces,

5 Sweaters, 4 Scarves or Bandanas, 2 Back Packs,

2 Coats, 2 Pairs of Pantyhose, 2 Pieces of Velcro,

Belt Buckle, Raincoat, and a Dress Shoulder Pad


Weird Science (18)

7 Rubber Stoppers, 4 Glass Test Tubes, Acid Container

(part), Inflatable “Earth,” Magnet, Meter stick, Pipe

Cleaner, Suction Cup, and a Weather Balloon


The Undersea World (34)

13 “O” rings, 10 Ear Plugs, 6 Swimsuits, 3 Swim

Goggles/Masks, Scuba Fins, and a Wetsuit


Tool Time (57)

8 Paint Brushes & Rollers, 5 Clamps, 5 Saw Blades,

3 Flashlights, 3 Garden Hoses, 3 Screwdrivers,

3 Shovels, 3 Tarps, 2 Measuring Tapes, 2 Misc. Tools,

2 Pieces of Sandpaper, 2 Thermoses, 2 Watering Cans,

a 5-Gallon Jug, a 5-Gallon Metal Bucket, Construction

Lamp Guard, Exacto Knife, Funnel, Garden Hose Roller,

Grinding Tool, Pliers, Snow Brush, Tool Belt, Tool Box,

Water Nozzle, Wooden Ladder, and a Wrench


Buried Treasure (45)

11 Lottery Cards & Tickets, 8 Rings, 6 Tokens,

5 Necklaces, 5 Watches, 3 Bracelets, 3 Ear-rings,

Credit Card, Jewelry Bag, Phone Card, Wallet, and

$0.54 in change


Holidays at the Shore (38)

24 Easter Eggs, 2 Artificial Christmas Trees,

2 Christmas Ornaments, 2 Easter Grass, 2 Gift Bows,

Easter Basket, Halloween Prop, Halloween Skull, New

Years Party Streamers, and a set of Vampire Teeth


Wild World of Sports (302)

100 Miscellaneous Balls, 42 Tennis Balls, 23 Golf Balls,

12 Pieces of Surf Wax, 10 Bike Reflectors, 7 Baseballs,

6 Bikes, 6 Boogie Boards, 5 Golf Tees, 4 Footballs,

3 Frisbees, 3 Hockey Pucks, 3 Knee Pads, 3 Shower/

Swim Caps, 2 Baseball Bats, 2 Horseshoes, 2 Mouth

Guards, 2 Skateboards, Badminton Birdie, Bar Bell

Weight, Bike Light, Bike Part, Bike Seat, Bungee Cord/

Surf Leash, Golf Glove, Hackey Sack, Hockey Stick,

Paddle Ball Paddle, Paint Ball, Ping-Pong Ball, Snow

Sled, Soccer Ball, Soccer Shin Guard, Softballs, Tennis

Racket, Volleyball Net, Whistle, and 47 Beach Chairs


Odds-n-Ends (804)

563 Fire Cracker/Fireworks Parts, 123 Crack Vials &

Bags, 42 Rubber Hoses/Tubing, 10 Pieces of Bubble

Wrap, 8 Flubber/Rubber Blobs, 8 Oil/Tar Blobs,

8 Plastic Crates/Baskets/Tubs, 6 Beach Badges,

4 Flags, 3 Salt Bags, 2 Fire Hoses, 2 Pieces of Florist

Foam, 2 Metal Wheels, 2 US Flags, “Intrepid Museum”

Wrist Band, “Nazi” Pin, “Yankee” Ticket (7/5/04), Beach

Badge (1989), Beach Badge (1975 Bradley

Beach -daily), Box of Rat Poison, Casino Cups,

Dreidel, Flag Pole, Gas Mask, Gum Ball Machine,

Helium Tank, Metal Bench, Metal Seahorse, Sex Toy,

Shopping Carts, Some “Fuzzy” Thing, Tiki Torch,

Umbrella Holder, and a Voodoo Doll


Kids’ Stuff (100)

27 Pacifiers, 14 Baby Wipes, 14 Kites, 4 Crayons,

4 Wiffle Balls, 3 Bubble Blow Sticks, 3 Kite String

Spools, 3 Metal Toy Cars, 2 Baby Bottles, 2 Baby

Strollers, 2 Beach Balls, 2 Kiddy Pools, 2 Stuffed

Animals, 2 Super Balls, 2 Toy Soldiers, “Barbie” 2-Car

Garage, “Barbie” Clothes, “Barbie” Doll, “Barbie” Head,

“Barbie” Purse, “Radio Flyer” Wagon, Baby Bottle

Nipple, Baby Doll, Ball of String, Indian Figurine, Lego

Man, Metal Swing, Pom-Pom, Pool Noodle, Rubber

Ducky, Toy Piano, Trophy, and a Water Gun


High Seas (42)

11 Boat Parts, 9 Boat Bumpers, 3 Anchor Chains/

Chains, 2 Boat/Cleaning Brushes, 2 Flares, 2 Life

Preservers & Jackets, 2 Windshields, 5-gallon Bucket

filled with Concrete & Chain, Anchors, Boat Antenna,

Boat Cushion, Boat Door, Rudder, Dock Box, Jet Ski

Steering Wheel, Oar/Paddle, and a Boat Spring Rod


Road Warrior (70)

15 Car Parts, 6 Car Mats, 5 Car Bumpers, 5 Keys,

5 Key Rings, 4 Car Batteries, 4 Cup Holders, 3 Oil

Filters, 2 Headlights, 2 Hub Caps, 2 Spark Plugs,

2 Traffic Cones, 2 Truck Mud Flaps, 2 Windshield

Wipers, Car Air Filter, Car Tail Light, Engine Head,

Gas Cap, Gasket, Metal Springs, Motor, Muffler, Oil

Can, Truck Bed Liner, and a Truck Tailgate


Faking It (27)

15 Plastic Flowers, 7 Plastic Leaves, Plastic Lips,

Plastic Palm Tree, Plastic Plant, Plastic Seahorse Head

and a Plastic Thumb


What’s Up, Doc? (163)

71 “Band Aids,” 33 “Q-tips,” 21 Medicine Bottles/

Containers, 9 Inhalers, 8 Dust/Surgical Masks, 3 Eye

Droppers, 3 Pregnancy Tests, 2 “ACE” Bandages,

2 Medical Braces, Bathroom Medicine Cabinet, Contact

Lens Case, Dentures/Retainers, Diaphragm, Unopened

Condom, Eye Glass Case, Hospital ID Bracelet, IV

Bag, Medical Ampule w/ Yellow Liquid, Package of

Birth Control Foam, and a Specimen Cup


Back to School (503)

259 Pens, 186 Rubber Bands, 41 Pencils, 5 Erasers,

3 Glue Sticks, 3 Trays, 2 Tape Dispensers, Binder,

Paper Clip, School I.D., and a Wooden Desk


What’s Cooking (53)

16 Metal Forks, Knives, & Spoons, 13 Plastic Bowls/

Tupperware, 5 Glass Bowls/Plates/Cups, 3 Tea Bags,

2 Kitchen Knives, 2 Metal Plates, 2 Toasters,

Butter Tray, Cake Decorating Tip/Tubes, Coffee Mug,

Coffee Pot, Freezer, Garlic Press, Ice Tray,

Measuring Cup, Salad Spinner, and a Salt/Pepper

Shaker


Beauty and the Beach (406)

92 Combs, 73 Hair Scrunchies, 57 Chap/Lip Sticks,

46 Sun & Eye Glasses, 33 Toothbrushes, 27 Barrettes,

18 Brushes, 15 Hair Curlers, 7 Razors, 6 Toothpaste

Tubes, 5 Make-up Kits, 5 Bars of Soap, 4 Nail Files,

4 Wigs, 3 Deodorant Containers, 3 Eyeliners, 3 Nail

Polish Brush/Bottles, 3 Plastic Fingernails, 2 Hair Nets


Gone Fishin’ (24)

8 Fishing Knives, 5 Rubber Lures, 4 Commercial

Fishing Bands, 3 Fishing Rods, 3 Rubber Boots,

2 Metal Fishing Lures, 3 Tackle Boxes, and a Fishing

Reel