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EGLE and partners encouraging boaters to recycle winterizing shrink-wrap

Courtesy of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)

Once collected, the wrap is sold to companies that turn it into post-consumer resin pellets, which can be used in the manufacturing of other items

“So it’s that time of year when everybody unwraps their boats and this is an opportunity instead of putting it in the trash or burning it or doing something improper, you can have it recycled.”

Michigan has about 800,000 registered boats and, as Memorial weekend approaches, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE, wants boaters to know how easy it is to recycle your boat’s shrink-wrap. Jeff Krcmarik is an Environmental Quality Specialist with EGLE.

“Starting in 2020, the Michigan Recycling Coalition started this collection program in partnership with Dr. Shrink, which is a shrink-wrap company in Manistee, Michigan, but they also collect the used shrink-wrap in the summertime, after the boat’s unwrapped.”

Once collected, the wrap is sold to companies that turn it into post-consumer resin pellets, which can be used in the manufacturing of other items.

Krcmarik says since the program began, over 320,000 pounds of plastic shrink-wrap have been recycled.

“And we have approximately 50 businesses, mostly marinas, that participate in the program to collect it.”

There are numerous drop-off locations throughout the state, but you will need recycling bags, which can be purchased online for $9. Each bag holds approximately three small boat’s worth of shrink-wrap.

Go to MichiganRecycles.org/programs for more information.

Dave joined WGVU Public Media in November of 2023 after eighteen years as a Michigan Association of Broadcasters Emmy-nominated photojournalist and editor at Grand Rapids' WOOD TV8 and three years at WEYI TV25 in Flint, Michigan. As a General Assignment Reporter, Dave covers daily news and community events all over West Michigan.
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