April 17, 2007          

Michigan Clean Marina Program Kicks Off Recycling Program

Livonia, MI – The Michigan Clean Marina Program is pleased to announce the implementation of a shrink-wrap recycling program for Southeast Michigan. Mondo Polymer Technologies, Inc., Reno, Ohio is working with the MI Clean Marina Program for a test market recycling program in Southeast Michigan. The program gets underway on May 1, 2007.   

Marine businesses benefit by reducing their disposal costs, Mondo Polymer benefits by gaining access to plastics they use in recycled products and everyone gains by reducing the amount of plastics reaching our landfills. Most significantly is the satisfaction everyone feels knowing that this program is benefiting the environment.
 
Shrink-wrap is commonly used for protecting recreational boats from snow, ice, water and debris when boats are stored outside during the winter season. The plastic is heated thereby shrinking the plastic to enclose the vessel and to make the plastic surfaces ridged thereby providing a protective covering strong enough to hold the weight of snow and ice. In most cases, used shrink-wrap is deposited in dumpsters that are taken, by the disposal company, to landfills. This program will save thousands and thousands of pounds of shrink-wrap from heading to landfills and provides plastic that Mondo Polymer Tech uses on creating recycled products. One major product produced from recycled plastics is used as part of barrier systems on roadways.
 
 “We asked Mondo Polymer if they would be interested in picking up shrink-wrap at the Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Center in February as well as at the Spring Boating Expo at the Rock Financial Showplace, Novi, in March. We had great cooperation from exhibitors as well as both of these convention facilities. After the successful program at both shows, we felt we should move forward with Mondo Polymer Technologies on a test market for Southeast Michigan during the launch season, when thousands of pounds of shrink-wrap are removed from boats just prior to the boating season,” stated Van Snider, President of Michigan Boating Industries Association. Mondo Polymer is starting the program in Southeast Michigan with intentions of expanding to other regions of the state.  
 
“This is a win-win for everyone involved and especially for the environment,” stated Jeff Spencer for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and member of the CMP Committee. Chuck Pistis, Michigan Sea Grant, agrees and added, “The MI Clean Marina Program continues to add value through not only designated marina facilities as clean marinas but consistently striving for ways to protect and enhance our environment. We look forward to a very successful recycling program that can expand statewide in the future.”
 
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a joint program between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Sea Grant and the Michigan Boating Industries Association. For more details on the program and to see which facilities are designated Michigan Clean Marinas, go to: CMP website

Top