Each year, as boating season kicks off in Queen Anne’s County, a significant environmental challenge emerges: disposing of the plastic shrinkwrap used
to winterize boats.
With an estimated 5,000 recreational boats in the county, many of which rely on this single-use material, this contributes substantially to landfill waste. Recognizing this issue, Queen Anne’s County Government is continuing its proactive efforts to reduce boating’s ecological footprint by expanding its shrinkwrap recycling initiative. In response to this environmental concern, Queen Anne’s County Government has joined forces with Plastic Free QAC and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) to tackle the issue and minimize the ecological impact of single-use boat shrinkwrap.
The first year we launched this initiative, we began by targeting local marinas and businesses, successfully recycling over 1.62 tons of plastic and diverting it from landfills. Our goal last year was to increase our efforts to 2 tons collected. We are excited that with your help we not only met our goal but far exceeded it by collecting 6 tons! This year, we need our boating community to help us continue the momentum.
County Commissioner Phil Dumenil stated, “Protecting our environment is an ongoing commitment, and this initiative reflects how we can work together as a community to make a difference. By providing free MTAM recycle bags, we’re encouraging everyone to play a part in reducing the environmental impact of recreational boating.”
Last year, a team from this initiative sat down with Conduit Street Podcast host Dominic Butchko. Catch the episode: Queen Anne’s County’s Boat Plastic Recycling Initiative.
Learn more about this initiative on the county website.
