10.2190/U5UQ-1UKP-YYRB-YWQ0 U5UQ1UKPYYRBYWQ0 7 Wastes on New York Area Beaches 183 188 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 U5UQ1UKPYYRBYWQ0.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=U5UQ1UKPYYRBYWQ0 2 R. Lawrence Swanson Waste Management Institute Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook Some 93 Km of Long Island, New York's beaches were closed during the summer of 1988 as a consequence of the washup of floatable wastes. In August 1987 80 Km of New Jersey ocean beaches were closed as a consequence of similar wastes. While the relative volume of floatable medical wastes was extremely small, it is the focus for public outrage concerning general conditions of coastal waters. The sources of floatable wastes and their transport are reviewed. Because Long Island is particularly vulnerable to washups of floatable wastes in summer, it is important to work towards reducing the wastes materials at the sources.