Partnering for a sustainable future: Lake Hopatcong’s new boat shrink wrap recycling initiative

July 07, 2023| Community, Environment

By: Kyle Richter

Boat owners on Lake Hopatcong may remember a time when you could bring your boat shrink wrap to a container at Lee’s County Park Marina each spring for recycling. That program, provided by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, ran for more than a decade and kept tons of shrink-wrap material out of landfills each year. Unfortunately, rising costs and challenging recycling markets resulted in a discontinuation of Morris County’s boat shrink wrap recycling program in 2020.

After many years of searching for an alternative solution, I am pleased to share that this past spring, in partnership with Roxbury Township Clean Communities and the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, we were able to secure a new boat shrink wrap recycling partner, Ultra-Poly. The Pennsylvania-based plastics recycling company agreed to provide recycling containers which, once filled, would be transported to their facility for recycling.

Our next step was securing a convenient drop-off location, and after thorough discussions with potential partners, the Mount Arlington Borough Recycling Center graciously agreed to serve as our designated drop-off point. With all the essential elements in place, we officially launched a new boat shrink wrap recycling pilot program for marinas this past spring.

Thanks to the dedication of our partners and the enthusiastic participation of local marinas, we achieved remarkable results. From the beginning of April through mid-June 2023, we collected seven 30-yard dumpsters, equivalent to a staggering 7 tons (14,000 pounds) of boat shrink wrap. Instead of adding to the burden of landfills, we took immense pride in diverting all that plastic for recycling!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who actively participated in this pilot program, contributing to its resounding success, and fostering a more sustainable future for Lake Hopatcong. Currently, we are diligently working towards the continuation of the program in 2024, with hopes of expanding the service to include individuals as well. Stay tuned!