Spring is in the air and boaters are eager to get back on the water. Naturally, some preparations are necessary before a boat can be launched. For an increasing number of Maryland boaters, one of the first spring time chores is removal of the plastic shrink wrap that has protected their vessels from winter's wrath. The Department of Natural Resources' Clean Marina Initiative urges boaters to recycle their used shrink wrap at one of the following public collection sites:
- The Marine Trades Association of Anne Arundel County, in partnership with Manner Resins, Giant Foods and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, is sponsoring four shrink wrap recycling locations within Anne Arundel County. Shrink wrap is being collected at Pasadena Boatel and Beach Club (Pasadena), Port Annapolis Marina (Annapolis), Herrington Harbour North (Tracys Landing), and Rhode River Marina (Edgewater). For more details, contact Beth Kahr, Director of the Marine Trades Association of Maryland, at 410-269-0741.
- Baltimore County residents or businesses may bring their shrink wrap to Eastern Landfill on Days Cove Road in Whitemarsh or to the State Highway Administration lot on Peninsula Expressway in Dundalk between March 15 through July 15 approximately.
- There are three drop-off sites in Cecil County for the first time this year: Duffy Creek Marina in Georgetown, Locust Point Marina in Elkton, and McDaniel Yacht Basin in North East. Contact Ronda Bolinger for details, at 410-275-2141.
- Kent County will be collecting shrink wrap at the transfer site on Earl Nicholson Road in Chestertown. Contact Marty Holden, at 410-778-7448 for more information.
Talbot County residents and marina operators can bring their used shrink wrap to the Midshore Landfill on Barkers Landing Road in Easton between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays and between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call James Wood, at 410-758-6605.
Queen Anne's County is undertaking a pilot shrink wrap recyling program this year. The drop-off site on Gravel Run Road in Grasonville is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 410-758-6605 for further details.
Before dropping off any shrink wrap for recycling, be sure to remove strings, zippers, doors, and vents. Consider saving the doors and vents for reuse next winter. Fold the used shrink wrap into a tight bundle. Place ONLY shrink wrap into the designated containers. Other materials will contaminate the load and will jeopardize the success of the program. The used shrink wrap will be processed and made into plastic bags, plastic lumber (decking, benches, etc.), lawn edging, plastic banners or other products.
The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from recreational boating. Operators of marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs qualify for Clean Marina certification by adopting measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair, petroleum storage and transfer, sewage disposal, solid, liquid and hazardous wastes, stormwater runoff, and facilities management. To date, 30 facilities have met rigorous pollution prevention standards and, thus, been certified as Clean Marinas. Another 87 have pledged to pursue certification.
Visit the Clean Marina web site to learn more about the program and to download clean boating tip sheets addressing vessel cleaning and maintenance, petroleum, sewage, waste containment and disposal, bottom paint, and underwater hull cleaning. The address is www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina. Information is also available by calling Clean Marina staff at 410-260-8770.
Posted: 4-12-2001
