Be ‘Plastic Free in the Salish Sea’ this boating season

A FREE boat shrink wrap recycling program kicks off this summer in the San Juans 

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

The San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship and Plastic Free Salish Sea are piloting a recycling program to make it easy for people to recycle the plastic film on their shrink-wrapped boats.  

Did you know, the plastic on a single 25ft boat is the equivalent of 2,060 plastics bags – or the amount an average American uses in 5 ½ years?!

Just in time for spring boating season, the pilot program is offering a limited number of free Dr. Shrink Recycling Bags for boaters to put their clean, properly prepared plastic wrap in. How it works:

First, boaters can pick up the bags on San Juan Island by contacting the County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship at: 360-370-0599.

1. Then, boaters can fill the bags with the plastic shrink wrap and return it to the County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship by contacting them at: 360-370-0599.
2. Next, the bags will be added to the other plastic film collection bins at the San Juan Transfer Station.
3. Finally, the full containers will be picked up by Lautenbach Recycling and delivered to Merlin Plastics in Delta BC where the plastic film will be processed and remade into products like plant pots and carpet.

Shrink wrapping is a fast-growing trend used for storing and moving boats, cars, campers, etc. Most often this plastic is single-use and ends up in landfills. This pilot program seeks to gage the willingness of boaters and businesses to take the extra steps needed to recycle the material, and to better understand the full costs getting the film to the processing centers. If the pilot proves successful, island businesses who offer wrapping may be able to include the upfront costs of recycling into their service fees.

Plastic Free Salish Sea encourages people to Think Before You Shrink!

• Want a Boat Wrap Recycling Bag? Call the Environmental Stewardship Department at 360-370-0599
• Shrink wrap needs to be clean, and all the zippers, buckles, vents, and ties need to be removed – only shrink wrap in the bags!

Relevant URLs:

• Solid Waste | San Juan County, WA
• https://plasticfreesalishsea.org/  
• Simple Steps to Recycling Shrink Wrap

Contact: Kari Koski, Derelict Vessel Program Coordinator, karik@sanjuancountywa.gov, 360-370-0599

About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship   

San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work.  The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/839/Environmental-Stewardship.