The Regional Science Consortium (RSC), in partnership with the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, has launched a new Clean Marinas initiative, starting with a Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program.

This marks the first phase of the Lake Friendly – Clean Marinas initiative, aimed at improving stewardship of Erie County’s natural resources and reducing plastic pollution in Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie.

Boat shrink wrap, widely used by local boaters to protect vessels during winter, is a major source of single-use plastic—each wrap is equivalent to about 2,062 plastic bags.

Without recycling, this material breaks down into microplastics that threaten water quality and wildlife in the region’s waterways.

Pennsylvania is the only Great Lakes state without a formal Clean Marinas Program, making this initiative a significant step for Erie and the state.

The RSC and its partners have distributed 18 shrink wrap recycling containers at key boating locations, including the Port Authority’s Boatyards by Liberty Park, Perry’s Landing Marina, and Presque Isle State Park Marina.

Since April, the project has already diverted over 2,500 pounds of shrink wrap from landfills.

Collected shrink wrap is sent to Firelands Local LLC in Ohio for cleaning and baling, then delivered to Mondo Polymer Technologies, where it is repurposed into guardrail offset blocks, giving the plastic a new life and keeping it out of local landfills and waterways.

Public Event: See the Clean Marinas Initiative in Action, the community is invited to witness the initiative firsthand:

When: Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 1:15 PM

Where: Parking area south of the Port Authority’s Boatyard, between the Sloppy Duck restaurant and Perry’s Landing Marina, Erie

RSC staff will be loading 2,500 pounds of shrink wrap into a waste management truck, demonstrating the impact of local recycling efforts and the importance of environmental stewardship in Erie.

The RSC’s Clean Marinas and Lake Friendly Program includes ongoing research, education, and community engagement to protect Erie’s waterways and promote sustainable boating practices.

For more information on the Clean Marinas initiative and other environmental programs, visit the Regional Science Consortium’s website.