Boat wrap recycling offered again at Monroe Boat Club
Boat shrink wrap can again be recycled locally.
For the second year, the Monroe Boat Club Association is offering the recycling program. Last year, the organization surpassed its goal of collecting 20 bags of plastic.
“Last year's program launch was such a success that we had to re-order supplies twice, collecting over 35 bags of plastic,” David Ryan, president of the Monroe Boat Club Association, said. “This year we have tripled the quantity so that we have enough on hand. Just one of these industrial-sized bags can hold all the plastic needed to cover a boat up to about 35-feet long.”
This year’s program will be similar to last year’s.
“Pretty much everything is the same this year as it was last year. It worked great,” Ryan said
MBCA is selling the collection bags to the public at a reduced cost of $5 each. The bags are available at the Monroe Boat Club, 7932 Bolles Harbor Drive, after noon daily.
Shrink wrap for recycling must be put into the special bags. No strapping, wood or foam should be in the bag. Filled bags can be dropped off at the boat club. The state of Michigan will pick up the bags after Memorial Day. The plastic is then processed and used by manufacturers to create new products, such as Trex decking.
Again this year, the club is asking all area marinas and local boaters to take part in an effort to reduce plastic in landfills.
“Every bag of recycled plastic collected by MBC saves 115 kilowatts of energy, 13.5 gallons of oil and over 16 cubic feet of landfill space,” Ryan said. “The MBCA was formed to help protect and enhance the natural surroundings and foster a clean water harbor community, and plastic film sends up to 6 million pounds of waste into Michigan landfills each year.”
Word of the Monroe collection spread in 2022 and inspired others to start similar programs.
“I got several calls from people wanting to know how to get set up with this program. I spoke with a man from Waterford Township, outside of Detroit, who set up a program for their area, and a person from University of Michigan. I see this year that there are registered pickup locations in Highland Township, White Lake Township and Dexter, right outside of Ann Arbor,” Ryan said.
The MBCA has partnered with the Michigan Department of Environment and Great Lakes and Energy on the project, which is run by Michigan-based Recycling Run. Recycling Run has offered boat shrink wrap recycling in Michigan for 11 years. In 2021, it collected 1,620 bags, or 32 tons of plastic.
For more information on the program, contact Lauren Denby at the Michigan Recycling Coalition at ldenby@michiganrecycles.org or 989-780-7456.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Boat wrap recycling offered again at Monroe Boat Club
