RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program.ppt

RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program AGENDA Shrink wrap overview The Problem The Team The Challenge The Recycling Program Pilot and First Year Success Factors Next Steps RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program Shrink Wrap and Clear Polyethylene One of the most common ways to protect boats during winter storage season. 90% of the material is white and 10% is blue Can only be used once; hence the problem of disposal Usually installed by the boatyard or an independent contractor In the state of RI, it is estimated that there is over 100 Tons of shrink wrap used annually Further, clear polyethylene is also equally as prevalent in boatyards and marinas The bulk of this material was being taken away as solid waste RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program The Problem How to dispose of it in the spring, commonly called “unwrapping season” (April 15 – June15th) Large boatyards can have as many as 400 hundred boats that are stored and wrapped The material is bulky and difficult to compact The primary disposal option was to fill dumpsters Very costly Very wasteful One company, “Dr. Shrink” had a recycling program that relied on UPS, but it was limited in its effectiveness RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program The Team Approach – Critical for Success Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation Represents the state and is responsible for the landfill and recycling efforts Their issue was prolonging life of landfill and initiating a recycling effort for this material. They were the catalyst Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Represents the industry including marinas, boatyards, boat builders and other vendors Institutional Recycling Network Specializes in the business of recycling with strong emphasis on seeking markets and helping with logistics RIMTA Shrink Wrap Recycling Program The Challenge A successful program needed certain elements: Ability to have material removed promptly (I.e. weekly) Simple to implement What was “clean” How to package it How to store it Educational br