Michigan Clean Marina Program The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a partnership between the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan Sea Grant College Program, and the Michigan Depart- ment of Environmental Quality. The Clean Marina Program assists marina and boatyard Shrink-wrap Recycling operators in managing profitable businesses, The Michigan Clean Marina Program is while protecting and enhancing the quality of working with marinas to recycle plastic Michigan’s waterways. shrink-wrap in the state of Michigan. For more information about the Michigan Recycled shrink-wrap (low-density polyeth- Clean Marina Program, contact a representa- ylene or LDPE), is used to manufacture tive below: materials such as plastic bags, guardrail blocks, wheel chalks, lawn edging, plastic Charles Pistis banners, decking and benches. Michigan Sea Grant (616) 458-6805 All marinas, yacht clubs, dry marinas and [email protected] boat storage yards in Michigan are welcome Jeff Spencer to join this recycling effort, even if you are MDEQ, Env. Science & Services not currently participating in the Clean (517) 241-5719 Marina Program. For more information [email protected] about collection in your area, please contact Steve Remias the Michigan Clean Marina Recycling MacRay Harbor Program Coordinator. (586) 468-1900 [email protected] Van Snider Recycling Collection Service Michigan Boating Industries Association Shrink-wrap Recycling As a result of the support from (734) 261-0123 marinas participating in a pilot [email protected] Michigan Clean Marina recycling effort, the Michigan Clean Eric Foster Marina Recycling Program, in Belle Maer Harbor Recycling Program partnership with Mondo Polymer (586) 465-4534 Technologies, Inc., has expanded [email protected] shrink-wrap collection services. Currently, we are offering collection service on a case-by-case basis in www.miseagrant.umich.edu/cmp southern, lower Michigan. However, with continued support, collection Acknowledgement service may eventually be available Developed by Michigan Sea Grant Communication to both private and public marinas and Education Services. Photos and text adapted from throughout the state. the Ohio Shrink-wrap Program with permission from Ohio Sea Grant.

MICHU-07-707 Shrink-wrap Preparation Guidelines – Three Steps

Properly prepare the shrink-wrap by removing all non shrink-wrap materials, including: lumber, metal zippers, reusable vents, rope, and other items, such as batteries, soda cans, screws and nails. Alignment with State Solid Waste Principles and Goals 1 n Reuse, if possible, doors, vents, lumber and rope. All communities generate some form of solid n Recycle other materials, if possible, such as metals, waste — some of which may be considered paper and glass. unusable garbage. Although, solid waste typically also consists of many materials that are recyclable or reusable, such as grass clippings, clothing, paper, bottles, cans, batteries and plastic. Maximize the amount of shrink-wrap that will fit Program Benefits in storage areas and reduce weight by rolling the Marinas can reduce their waste disposal costs and The State of Michigan developed a sustainable shrink-wrap into a bundle up to five feet wide, similar support other businesses that process reusable approach to solid waste management outlined to a rolled-up sleeping bag. Tie the rolled bundle with materials to produce new, marketable products. in the Michigan Solid Waste Policy. At the top 2 a strip of shrink-wrap or ribbon strapping. Through your participation, thousands of pounds of of the list of guiding principles outlined in the plastic shrink-wrap can be diverted from solid waste Policy is the preference to first eliminate “waste n While rolling, please keep the shrink-wrap clean. facilities (landfills). generation” and instead reuse discarded materials Gravel, sand, and excess dirt make the recycling for “beneficial purposes.” By participating in the process more difficult and costly. The 2007 pilot recycling effort in Michigan received Michigan Clean Marina Recycling Program, we an amazing response. The response from participat- are collectively working toward achieving the ing marinas resulted in the manufacture of over following goal of decreasing waste generation: 15,000 pieces of reused plastics by Mondo Polymers For collection, place rolled shrink-wrap in designated in 2007. Each participating marina reduced their cost Strive to make continuous improvement toward containers marked “SHRINK-WRAP ONLY.” And associated with waste collection by approximately full utilization of all solid waste streams, and as a contact the program coordinator (see below). $250. Through the combined efforts of shrink-wrap step toward that end, establish a goal of utilizing recycling programs in Michigan and Ohio, approxi- 50 percent of Michigan’s municipal solid waste n 3 Contaminated and/or dirty shrink-wrap may disrupt mately 350,000 pounds of plastic wrap was diverted (MSW) stream by 2015, (Michigan Solid Waste the recycling process and decrease the value of the from landfills. Policy, 2007, p 12). material. Thus, only shrink-wrap should be stored in this container or storage area. For more information about additional recycling programs in Michigan, and the Great Lakes, see: • Michigan Department of Environmental Michigan Clean Marina Recycling Quality / Municipal Recycling Information Program Coordinator Contact: and the Michigan Pollution Prevention Program (MP3) Ron Wesel Michigan Clean Marina Recycling Email: [email protected] c/o Mondo Polymers Technologies, Inc. Recycled shrink-wrap is used to • Michigan Chamber of Commerce / Official Phone: (740) 376-9396 Attn: Ron Wesel manufacture guard rail blocks, part of Policy Relating to a Comprehensive Statewide barrier systems on roadways. In 2007, Recycling Program Cell: (740) 236-0037 State Route 7, P.O. Box 250 15,000 pieces of reused plastics were Reno, OH 45773 manufactured by Mondo Polymers. • U.S. EPA / Region 5 Pollution Prevention