As boating season approaches, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with the Ohio Clean Marinas Program and local recycling partners, is reminding boaters to make a plan to recycle boat shrink wrap this spring instead of sending it to the landfill. Each year, thousands of pounds of boat shrink wrap are removed from vessels across Ohio. A single boat’s shrink wrap cover can contain as much plastic as 2,000 grocery bags. When disposed of improperly, this material can break down into microplastics that persist in landfills and may eventually enter Ohio’s waterways.
Through the Ohio Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program, boaters have a convenient and responsible way to recycle this plastic at designated locations across the state:
How to recycle boat shrink wrap:
- Before removing the wrap, walk around the boat and cut away all nylon strapping using a small knife or scissors.
- Remove the shrink wrap and take out all wood, foam, vents, doors, and any other non-shrink-wrap materials.
- Roll the clean plastic into a tight bundle and drop it off at one of the participating recycling locations listed below.
Last year, the Ohio Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program recycled 60,000 pounds of plastic, contributing to more than 2.6 million pounds collected over the program’s 20-year history. Recycling shrink wrap helps conserve landfill space, reduce plastic pollution in waterways, and support recycling-related jobs in Ohio.
Launched in 2004 with grant funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Ohio Clean Marinas Program is administered through ODNR’s Office of Coastal Management and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program. The program expanded statewide in 2015 with funding from the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft.
The Ohio Clean Marinas Program is a proactive partnership that encourages marinas and boaters to implement simple, innovative solutions to keep Ohio’s coastal and inland waterways clean. The program supports marina operators in protecting the resources that sustain their operations—clean water and fresh air—while promoting environmental stewardship through best management practices and increased awareness of environmental laws and regulations.