April 3, 2010 by Boating Times

The average boat is cocooned each fall inside 14 pounds of shrink wrap, usually made from petroleum based low density polyethylene (LDPE).  The material boat owners rely upon to keep snow, ice and driving rains out doesn’t magically break down once it is discarded, so the best environmental solution is to repurpose the bags for use as composite lumber and other uses. This is not something boating consumers can do themselves; individuals need to provide LDPE materials to recyclers to keep the green process moving along.

Boaters should ask their marinas if they do on-site bulk shrink wrap recycling; if not, some town or village disposal facilities might accept LDPE materials.  However, budget woes have curtailed development of mandatory statewide and regional shrink wrap recycling programs.  Thus, environmentally respectful boaters and marina operators need to act on their own to keep our environment cleaner.

Barbara LaRocco of Going Coastal, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the value of our waterfront environment, says that they are recommending reusable covers unless boaters can find a suitable recycling source.  She recognizes resources such as the REBAG® recycling program from Dr. Shrink, a relatively low-cost way to recycle used shrink wrap.  REBAG® is sold as a kit; boaters are instructed to cut off their shrink wrap covers as directed, stuff them into the bags, affix the pre-paid shipping labels, and drop the stuffed bags at Mailboxes Etc. or a UPS service center (UPS will also pick up at marinas and boatyards during regular deliveries). The bags may be ordered at www.dr-shrink.com, and are also sold at some local boat retailers.

Cory Weissglass, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Island Recycling Solutions, LLC (631-231-8700 orwww.islandresourcescorp.com), has a local solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by keeping landfills free of LDPE.  Boaters and marinas with sizeable bundles of discarded shrink wrap may qualify for a collection by the company at no charge.  Individuals or smaller groups may drop off their properly prepared winter covers at the company’s recycling center in Bay Shore.

To prepare shrink wrap for recycling, follow the instructions provided by the recycling company.  Island Recycling advises boaters to “remove all doors, vents, zippers, rope, ribbon strapping, packaging labels and any other non-shrink wrap materials; keep the shrink wrap dry and free from dirt and other materials that will contaminate the plastic (making it more difficult to properly recycle); roll and tie into a bundle; and store in a plastic bag or other container to prevent contamination from water, dirt and other debris.”

Recycling winter’s covers takes a bit of effort but rewards all boaters with cleaner waters and clearer air.  According to Weissglass,  “100 boats create over a ton of plastic each spring– when recycled, it saves 455 gallons of gasoline and four cubic yards of landfill space.”

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Stefanie Scherner of Operation SPLASH wants to inform our readers about the organization’s partnership with Hempstead Town to collect shrink wrap for recycling. Per Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray:  “Shrink wrap protects boats from the effects of harsh winter weather, but it presents a waste disposal problem, clogging landfills with non-biodegradable material. Hempstead Town’s recycling program will allow boat owners to protect their vessels from snow, ice, water and debris while also protecting the environment.”

Rob Weltner, President of Operation SPLASH, says: “SPLASH has been removing non-biodegradable shrink wrap from local waterways for years.” Since there are over 15,000 boaters in the Town of Hempstead, the recycling program is expected to collect hundreds of tons of plastic that would otherwise be discarded and enter into the waste stream.

A container to collect the shrink wrap is located at the Sanitation Department facility at 1600 Merrick Road,  Merrick. Commercial marinas and residential boat owners may deposit clean shrink wrap (free of all lumber, rope, nails and garbage) between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM Monday through Friday.

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Huntington is also helping boaters recycle shrink wrap, per Councilman Mark Cuthbertson: “We will have a special bin on site for boaters to dispose of their shrink wrap…the material can be dropped off at our Recycling Center at 641 New York Avenue through Memorial Day weekend. The Department of Waste Management is working with a local company to recycle this material,” stated Cuthbertson. “This will help keep tons of this material out of our Resource Recovery Facility.”  For additional information, call the Department of Waste Management at 351-3186.