Lisa S. Alter
Floatables are water-borne debris that wash up onshore. Sources of these include: street, beach and boat litter, overboard garbage disposal by boats, escape from landfills, loss during marine transfers of waste, and combined sewer overflows. See appendix p.1. Hospital waste washing onto beaches has been responsible for many closures. Harbors and tributaries are also sources of floatable debris. (Atkin, Bangser, Jacobson, Smith, Wade, Backer, 1991)
Floatables are a nuisance or hazard for beachgoers. They can harm wildlife. Animals ingest them, which can result in suffocation or starvation. Undigested plastic pellets can stay in an animals stomach, leaving no room for real food. (Long Island Sound Study, 1989)