Beach Reopens After Syringe Debris Found, Then More Trash Reported

Syringes and household waste washed ashore at Manasquan Beach in Manasquan, New Jersey, prompting a cleanup and reopening, after which another beachgoer reported finding more concerning debris.

Officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said the items included syringes reportedly used for at-home insulin injections, along with other household trash, local outlets reported.

Mayor Michael Mangan said the syringes were first discovered Saturday afternoon, and town crews cleaned and cleared the area.

"There was a large amount of additional debris, indicating a garbage spill of some kind, and the incident was localized to the south end beach, along the Manasquan Inlet jetty," said Fox News Digital.

Mangan said the town believed the debris washed ashore after recent heavy rainfall and sewer overflows, citing local reports that referenced NJDEP guidance.

"In accordance with guidance from the NJDEP and Monmouth County health officials, the town waited for two high-tide cycles, which occurred overnight Saturday," said Mangan.

By 9 a.m. Sunday, state and local officials met on site and found no syringes, leading to reopening, Mangan said.

"By 9 a.m. Sunday, state and local officials met on site, and no syringes were observed — so the water was reopened," Mangan said.

Some residents questioned the timing. Priscilla Mahajan told News 12 that on Sunday she found needle plungers and drug paraphernalia.

"One beach cleanup is definitely not enough to say something is safe," said Mahajan.

Mahajan also told CBS News she found syringes, cut straws, syringe plungers, syringe caps, and small plastic baggies along the beach.

Officials declined to comment when Fox News Digital contacted the NJDEP.

The syringe incident follows another unusual shoreline discovery less than two weeks earlier, when nearly 30 dead juvenile dogfish sharks were found scattered across a beach in Sea Isle City.

Shark ecologist Mike Heithaus told Fox News Digital that seeing that many sharks wash ashore at one time was rare.

Heithaus said the event did not appear consistent with a widespread toxin or pollution problem and suggested the sharks may have been caught and discarded.