As one of the largest suppliers of shrink wrap across the globe, Dr. Shrink urges marina operators and boat owners to recycle their used shrink wrap when getting boats ready for the season.
“Taking care of our environment that we, as boat owners and outdoor recreation enthusiasts all enjoy, should be a top priority,” said Mike Stenberg, President and Founder of Dr. Shrink, Inc. “With a little bit of effort and education, we can all do our part and recycle our old, used shrink wrap for very little cost.”
Dr. Shrink’s film is 100-percent virgin resin made of #4 Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), which is one of the most common plastic materials available. Its recycled contents are frequently used in plastic lumber, construction sheeting and garbage bags.
Recycling and environmental stewardship are not new concepts to Dr. Shrink, as the company has launched and/or supported several recycling programs across North America, including Michigan, Ohio, the New England area, and also in Ontario, Canada.
Michigan program
“We have created a comprehensive recycling program in our home State of Michigan, and its 20+ years of success is one of our proudest accomplishments as a company,” said Stenberg, “Our goal is to continue to build upon our program, and every year, we are hoping to expand our efforts across the entire country.”
Dr. Shrink partners with the Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC) and Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC) to keep used shrink wrap out of area landfills.
As part of Michigan’s Recycling Run Program, Dr. Shrink offers boaters EZ-Fill Bags for easy film recycling. Boaters and marina operators must register for the program to be put on the bag pickup list. Buying bags does not ensure registration to the program.
These EZ-Fill Recycling Bags are custom-made strictly for the Recycling Run Program and hold approximately 800 square feet of plastic. The bag features a large mouth opening, which allows users to easily stuff more shrink wrap into the bag.
Dr. Shrink has expanded its recycling efforts via a partnership with Clean Ocean Access (COA), a Rhode Island based non-profit organization, to promote their Shrink Wrap Recycling project across New England. The goals of Clean Ocean Access’ Shrink Wrap Recycling project are to position the sailing and marine industry as an environmental leader, by creating a consumer and industry led recycling stream that mitigates the risk of shrink wrap entering landfills and incinerators. Max Kraimer, Strategic Partnerships Manager at COA says, “The project brings awareness to global plastic issues by establishing a circular economy for plastic film reclaiming it into new products for the marine industry.” The project has a regional focus on the northeast portion of the United States of America with a focus on Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine and contributes to COA’s vision of a Clean Health Ocean that is Accessible to all.
Dr. Shrink also works with Switch Energy Corp. out of Clinton, Ontario, Canada for shrink wrap recycling throughout most of Ontario. Switch Energy Corp. (SEC) has been the leading recycler of agricultural film plastics in Ontario since 2011. SEC has expanded operations to help increase recycling efforts with used marine shrink wrap.
Shrink wrap users in other areas not mentioned above can also do their part to recycle used shrink wrap. “To start, call your local recycling center and ask them if they will accept “#4 LDPE plastic sheeting,” said Mike Stenberg. “Some locations may require you to provide documentation, and Dr. Shrink is happy to help. You can access specification documents online at: dr-shrink.com/recycling, or you can email us at: recycle@dr-shrink.com.”
To ensure wrap is accepted at the local recycling center, be sure it is clean, has zero accessories (such as strapping, buckles, vents, or zipper doors), has zero moisture and is dry. It also should be loosely packed for easy handling and sorting when it arrives at the local recycling center.
About Dr. Shrink
Dr. Shrink, Inc. was founded in 1992, by Mike Stenberg in Manistee, Michigan, as a one-man operation in his home. It has since grown into a 15+ employee international corporation that distributes its products on 6 continents across the world. Dr. Shrink, Inc. is located in Manistee’s Industrial Park at 315 Washington Street.
