AMERIKA WASTE LAND
Medical waste washes ashore, prompting beach closures across East Coast
Mysterious medical waste washing up on East Coast causes slew of beach closures
Julia Daye, The Charlotte Observer
Beaches announce temporary closures after medical waste washes ashore in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. (Dreamstime/TNS)Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS
Officials are closing multiple beaches along Delaware, Maryland and Virginia after medical waste washed up on shores.
Trash containing items like syringes began showing up along the coast of Assateague on Sunday, Sept. 15, park officials said in an announcement on Facebook.
“The Chincoteague Public Beach in the Virginia unit has been added to the Closure List,” they said in an update. “All Ocean Facing Beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to swimming or wading due to medical waste coming ashore.”
Officials don’t yet know where the waste is coming from, but authorities plan to investigate.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that there have been no injuries as a result of the debris. Multiple government agencies are working together to ensure safety and find out when it will be okay for people to re-enter the water.
“The public is advised to take caution along the coastline, wear shoes if walking on the beach, and not touch any plastic debris in or near the water,” the department announced.
In the meantime, agencies in the area are encouraging vigilance.
“Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely,” the Town of Ocean City said in a statement announcing their beach was added to the list of closures.
It is unclear how long these closures might be in effect, according to Assateague Island National Seashore.
“We do not know how much more material is out there, when it will stop coming ashore, and how long it will take for cleanup,” park officials said.
Overview of current closures:
—North end (all of the island North of Assateague State Park) is completely closed.
—Assateague Island State Park Beach is closed to swimming.
—Oceanside Beaches in Assateague Island National Park are closed to swimming, including North Beach, Oceanside Camping Beach, South Beach, the beach on the Oversand Vehicle Area and Chincoteague Beach.
—Ocean City Beach has closed the ocean for swimming.
—Lewes beaches, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island beaches are now closed to swimmers, according to Delaware Online.
Julia Daye, The Charlotte Observer
Beaches announce temporary closures after medical waste washes ashore in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. (Dreamstime/TNS)Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS
Officials are closing multiple beaches along Delaware, Maryland and Virginia after medical waste washed up on shores.
Trash containing items like syringes began showing up along the coast of Assateague on Sunday, Sept. 15, park officials said in an announcement on Facebook.
“The Chincoteague Public Beach in the Virginia unit has been added to the Closure List,” they said in an update. “All Ocean Facing Beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to swimming or wading due to medical waste coming ashore.”
Officials don’t yet know where the waste is coming from, but authorities plan to investigate.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that there have been no injuries as a result of the debris. Multiple government agencies are working together to ensure safety and find out when it will be okay for people to re-enter the water.
“The public is advised to take caution along the coastline, wear shoes if walking on the beach, and not touch any plastic debris in or near the water,” the department announced.
In the meantime, agencies in the area are encouraging vigilance.
“Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely,” the Town of Ocean City said in a statement announcing their beach was added to the list of closures.
It is unclear how long these closures might be in effect, according to Assateague Island National Seashore.
“We do not know how much more material is out there, when it will stop coming ashore, and how long it will take for cleanup,” park officials said.
Overview of current closures:
—North end (all of the island North of Assateague State Park) is completely closed.
—Assateague Island State Park Beach is closed to swimming.
—Oceanside Beaches in Assateague Island National Park are closed to swimming, including North Beach, Oceanside Camping Beach, South Beach, the beach on the Oversand Vehicle Area and Chincoteague Beach.
—Ocean City Beach has closed the ocean for swimming.
—Lewes beaches, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island beaches are now closed to swimmers, according to Delaware Online.
Medical waste washes up in Ocean City, Assateague Island forcing closures
Swimming is not allowed and people are asked to wear shoes while walking on the sand as a precaution
By Vince Lattanzio • Published September 15, 2024
OCEAN CITY, MARYLANDIn an aerial view, a ferris wheel and amusements are seen at the Ocean City inlet and Ocean City boardwalk on May 26, 2023 in Ocean City, Maryland. Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of beach season on the East Coast. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Beaches have been closed and ocean activities barred along southern Maryland after medical waste washed up around Ocean City.
Officials in Ocean City announced the closure on Sunday afternoon. They did not expand on what type of medical waste was found.
"Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely," Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald said in a statement. He added that the city was working with Worcester County health officials to investigate the source of the waste.
The medical waste also washed up in Assateague Island National Seashore which spans Maryland and Virginia. The waste was only found on the Maryland portion of the island, officials said. They have barred beach access on the North End and swimming and wading is forbidden in the Maryland District.
Assateague Island State Park also has a Beach Closure in effect. The Virginia portion of the seashore has not seen medical waste.
Officials said they'll provide updates as they have them.
Swimming is not allowed and people are asked to wear shoes while walking on the sand as a precaution
By Vince Lattanzio • Published September 15, 2024
OCEAN CITY, MARYLANDIn an aerial view, a ferris wheel and amusements are seen at the Ocean City inlet and Ocean City boardwalk on May 26, 2023 in Ocean City, Maryland. Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of beach season on the East Coast. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Beaches have been closed and ocean activities barred along southern Maryland after medical waste washed up around Ocean City.
Officials in Ocean City announced the closure on Sunday afternoon. They did not expand on what type of medical waste was found.
"Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely," Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald said in a statement. He added that the city was working with Worcester County health officials to investigate the source of the waste.
The medical waste also washed up in Assateague Island National Seashore which spans Maryland and Virginia. The waste was only found on the Maryland portion of the island, officials said. They have barred beach access on the North End and swimming and wading is forbidden in the Maryland District.
Assateague Island State Park also has a Beach Closure in effect. The Virginia portion of the seashore has not seen medical waste.
Officials said they'll provide updates as they have them.
Needles, syringes among medical waste washing ashore on some Maryland beaches
By Tara Lynch, Miyah Tucker, Adam Thompson
Updated on: September 16, 2024 / CBS Baltimore
BALTIMORE-- Ocean access has been restricted at Assateague State Park, Ocean City, and other Maryland beaches, after a "significant amount" of medical waste washed ashore, according to the Maryland State Parks.
Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan said needles, syringes and other trash were among the debris washing ashore, but they still do not know where it is coming from. He added that this impacted beaches from Virginia to Delaware, including Assateague and Chincoteague.
"This is the first time that I can remember that we've had this type of material wash up on our beaches," Meehan told WJZ.
Access restrictions include: swimming
wading
surfing
any other activities in the ocean
"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."
Ocean City says it will continue to monitor the trash that is washing up and make sure it is safe before the ocean is reopened.
If you spot any trash, you are asked to report it to Ocean City Police and encouraged not to remove it yourself.
Waste cleanup efforts
The Ocean City Department of Public Works, Beach Patrol and Police combed the shoreline, picking up the trash by hand instead of using machinery that's regularly used to clean the beaches.
While the sand remains open, people are encouraged to wear shoes and not walk barefoot. The ocean access was limited starting on Saturday, according to Meehan because of the rough surf and debris.
Most of the clean-up was on Sunday with only a few items washing ashore on Monday.
"There's only been a few objects that have washed up on the beach today and the ocean is rough, so if there's stuff out there it should be coming ashore. It looks like the major impact was sometime early yesterday morning into yesterday afternoon," Meehan said.
Where is the waste coming from?
The medical waste is being treated as a biohazard and is kept separate from other trash, according to officials. While the primary focus is the safety of beachgoers and emergency personnel, Meehan still wonders where this trash is coming from.
"Nobody throughout the state or the region, Delaware and Virginia included, has any idea. It's yet to be determined how that's going to be researched and who's going to investigate that," Meehan added.
Hugh Hawthorne, superintendent of the Assateague Island National Seashore, told the Banner the situation was still "emerging" and the north end of Assateague Island is "where the worst of this is."
"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."
Vacationers impacted
Ocean City regulars say this time of year is usually slower than the summertime, but right now, it is quieter than normal.
"It's like a ghost town," said Joe Schneider, who is visiting from Baltimore. "I've been coming down here for 70 years since I was a kid. I've never heard of nothing like this before."
Schneider said despite the ocean closure, he will still sit on the beach.
Other beachgoers are disheartened their vacation plans were changed. Many said they weren't aware of the closure until they spoke with beach patrol. Others said they didn't know because no signs were posted.
Jerry Smith, who is visiting from Essex, said he found out about the ocean closure earlier this morning.
"I was hoping the wind would die down too, plus this stuff here. I would've liked to at least go out a little bit into the ocean," Smith said.
The Kidd family, visiting from Pennsylvania, was walking along the water Monday morning before the beach patrol told them they had to move up the beach.
"He just said this was more like ground zero," Walter Kidd said. "I was walking on the edge of the water, and he said don't walk in it, so you don't step on a needle or something."
By Tara Lynch, Miyah Tucker, Adam Thompson
Updated on: September 16, 2024 / CBS Baltimore
BALTIMORE-- Ocean access has been restricted at Assateague State Park, Ocean City, and other Maryland beaches, after a "significant amount" of medical waste washed ashore, according to the Maryland State Parks.
Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan said needles, syringes and other trash were among the debris washing ashore, but they still do not know where it is coming from. He added that this impacted beaches from Virginia to Delaware, including Assateague and Chincoteague.
"This is the first time that I can remember that we've had this type of material wash up on our beaches," Meehan told WJZ.
Access restrictions include: swimming
wading
surfing
any other activities in the ocean
"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."
Ocean City says it will continue to monitor the trash that is washing up and make sure it is safe before the ocean is reopened.
If you spot any trash, you are asked to report it to Ocean City Police and encouraged not to remove it yourself.
Waste cleanup efforts
The Ocean City Department of Public Works, Beach Patrol and Police combed the shoreline, picking up the trash by hand instead of using machinery that's regularly used to clean the beaches.
While the sand remains open, people are encouraged to wear shoes and not walk barefoot. The ocean access was limited starting on Saturday, according to Meehan because of the rough surf and debris.
Most of the clean-up was on Sunday with only a few items washing ashore on Monday.
"There's only been a few objects that have washed up on the beach today and the ocean is rough, so if there's stuff out there it should be coming ashore. It looks like the major impact was sometime early yesterday morning into yesterday afternoon," Meehan said.
Where is the waste coming from?
The medical waste is being treated as a biohazard and is kept separate from other trash, according to officials. While the primary focus is the safety of beachgoers and emergency personnel, Meehan still wonders where this trash is coming from.
"Nobody throughout the state or the region, Delaware and Virginia included, has any idea. It's yet to be determined how that's going to be researched and who's going to investigate that," Meehan added.
Hugh Hawthorne, superintendent of the Assateague Island National Seashore, told the Banner the situation was still "emerging" and the north end of Assateague Island is "where the worst of this is."
"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."
Vacationers impacted
Ocean City regulars say this time of year is usually slower than the summertime, but right now, it is quieter than normal.
"It's like a ghost town," said Joe Schneider, who is visiting from Baltimore. "I've been coming down here for 70 years since I was a kid. I've never heard of nothing like this before."
Schneider said despite the ocean closure, he will still sit on the beach.
Other beachgoers are disheartened their vacation plans were changed. Many said they weren't aware of the closure until they spoke with beach patrol. Others said they didn't know because no signs were posted.
Jerry Smith, who is visiting from Essex, said he found out about the ocean closure earlier this morning.
"I was hoping the wind would die down too, plus this stuff here. I would've liked to at least go out a little bit into the ocean," Smith said.
The Kidd family, visiting from Pennsylvania, was walking along the water Monday morning before the beach patrol told them they had to move up the beach.
"He just said this was more like ground zero," Walter Kidd said. "I was walking on the edge of the water, and he said don't walk in it, so you don't step on a needle or something."
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