Dumping of sewage sludge, dredge spoils, and toxic wastes in the coastal waters of New York and New Jersey is an old practice. In the 1970s ocean dumping became an important environmental issue, the subject of legislation and litigation, and of scientific inquiry. After a decade of study and debate, the basic issues of the environmental effects of ocean dumping and its impact on the ocean and surrounding coastal region remain unresolved. This nontechnical review of ocean dumping issues looks at the development of the metropolitan coastal region from a societal view, particularly in how we have used the waters of the New York Bight. What is being dumped and the current state of our knowledge on the environmental effects of ocean dumping are closely examined, as well as legislative and legal issues surrounding contemporary court actions.