SLAUGHTER BEACH, Del. - Dozens of used syringes and needles are among the medical waste and debris to wash ashore Sussex County beaches over the last few days.
And that's just the beginning.
Homeowners along Slaughter Beach said the debris continues to arrive on the shore with each tide. Large tree branches and twigs started showing up Sunday. Mixed in the vegetation are used condoms, female hygiene products, medical waste, food wrappers, plastic bottles and bottle caps.
"As long as the wind keeps pushing this way or blowing this way, it's just going to continue to move trash our way," said Bill McSpadden. The homeowner led more than 150 volunteers in a coastal clean up project just hours before the debris started washing ashore.
McSpadden said volunteers have already collected at least 30 disposable syringes or needles.
The trash appears to have washed onto the coasts of Slaughter Beach and neighboring Broadkill Beach on the Delaware Bay, both relatively small beach communities compared to Delaware's established resort towns.
The junk is likely coming from points north that endured heavy flooding during storms Irene and Lee, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said in a statement. DNREC said it will provide homeowners with gloves and trash bags to collect the debris. The state advised people to call the agency for removal of any medical waste that is found.
"It's got to be picked up or else it's going to wash somewhere," said homeowner Beth Yost. "And it's my beach. I love my beach."
Yost filled at least eight garbage bags with trash over the last few days. She wears a pair of yellow dish washing gloves and stuffs her sweatshirt with extra trash bags.
"Bottle caps, bottles, water bottles, beer cans, candy wrappers, straws," Yost said. "It's everything you can possibly imagine and a little bit more."
DNREC said people who find medical waste should alert the state by calling the emergency response hotline at 1-800-662-8802.
Yost and McSpadden said clean up with likely take weeks if homeowners are left to do it alone.
Homeowners along Slaughter Beach, Del., are collecting garbage bags full of debris that washed ashore over the last few days, including medical waste. (Photo: WBOC)
