Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Shrink Wrap Recycling Program Returns To Manorhaven To Cut Plastic Waste

MANORHAVEN, NY — The 4th Annual Shrink Wrap Recycling Program is returning to Manorhaven Beach Park in April to reduce waste and protect the environment.

The program has been a huge success in the past, collecting 16.24 tons or 32,500 pounds of shrink wrap material in the first three years it was implemented.

This year's program will run from April 1 through May 15, and collections will be accepted daily at Manorhaven Beach Park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With summer approaching, many boats are being unwrapped and dropped back in the bay. Shrink wrap is a popular plastic material that's used to protect boats during winter. The Town of North Hempstead officials said a typical boat wrapping can generate more than 15 pounds of plastic, which heads over to landfills and can take hundreds of years to break down. By recycling shrink wrap, it can potentially be reused later in a variety of materials, such as plastic lumber, carpet, and even once again, shrink wrap.

Council Member Mariann Dalimonte initiated the shrink wrap program four years ago.

"This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and make a positive and lasting impact on our environment," she said. "By recycling these materials, we reduce waste and ensure our planet remains a beautiful place to live for future generations."