BRIGANTINE BEACH CLEAN UP
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BRIGANTINE -- More than 20 volunteers combed the sand dunes and beaches today in Brigantine in hopes of making the public aware of the dangers trash; especially plastic bags pose for the environment.

"Just say no to plastic bags folks. We end up in your trees, in your turtles, we end up in your streets and we end up in your yards, just say no to plastic bags," said "Bag monster" Jeff Hoffberger.

South Jersey's Bag Monster is the co-chair of the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, which sponsored today's event. The Bag Monster and his group are promoting legislation in Brigantine similar to a law passed in San Francisco, which bans all merchants from using plastic bags.

"We have a lot of plastics in the environment and plastic does not ever go away. So we are trying to raise awareness here in Brigantine," said co-chair Krissy Halkes.

According to the Bag Monster, if Americans choose to use reusable bags instead of the one time use plastic bags, we could save more then 90 million barrels of oil per year in America alone.

"Instead of going out to the grocery store with plastic bags or taking home one with you get a reusable bag. They are 99 cents a piece," added Hoffberger.

Volunteers started filling trash bags early Saturday morning and have one message to anyone who thinks about leaving trash behind:

"Don't do it again! Wherever you see a trash can, just put your trash in there. It will make our beaches a lot nicer," said volunteer Debbie White.

Clean beaches are crucial for tourism oriented towns like Brigantine, and volunteers say they will do this all again soon.