National Marina Day 2010 Set
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Quick Links to Sites of Interest
MD Boaters .Com
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Shrink Wrap Recycling Information
Marinas and boatyards in Maryland can help cut waste by collecting used shrink-wrap for recycling this spring. Mondo Polymer will come to marinas to pick up shrink-wrap at no cost. In the last two years, Mondo Polymer recycled approximately 400,000 pounds of used shrink wrap from marinas in Maryland! Mondo Polymer uses the shrink-wrap in manufacturing rigid highway barriers. www.mondopolymer.com
Marinas that want Mondo Polymer to recycle their shrink wrap must follow a few guidelines:
- All straps, doors, and zippers must be cut out of the wrap; If this is not done, the material will not be picked up because these items ruin the batch. (They melt at a different temperature and gum up the whole works!)
- The wrap should be rolled into as small a bundle as possible.
- Wrap should be kept free of debris (e.g., rocks, branches, trash). However, moisture is not a problem so the shrink wrap can be stored outside until collected.
Participating marinas should post clear signs outlining the rules above.
Collection is expected to run from mid-April through mid-June. Pick-up sites will be added until March 31st or until no more sites can be accommodated. Marinas or boatyards that want to work with Mondo Polymer should contact Ron Wesel ([email protected] or 888-607-4790) at Mondo Polymer. In many counties, marinas and boatyards can also take shrink-wrap to their local landfill for recycling. Boaters who do not use a marina or boatyard may be able to recycle the used shrink wrap in their curbside recycling bin. This varies by county. Contact your county's Department of Public Works or Waste Management Administration for more information. |
Hartge Yacht Harbor Newest Clean Marina
Hartge Yacht Harbor in Galesville (AA County) became the newest certified Maryland Clean Marina in January 2010. PIctured at left are Manager Nancy Bray (L) and Office Assistant Judy Hollerbach (R). Hartge Yacht Harbor is a new business started in April 2009 on the site formerly occupied by Hartge Yacht Yard. It has two marine railways dating back to the early 1900s, a haul out slip, a 50 ton lift, a state of the art paint building, 270 slips, and a sewage pump-out station. Marina staff and on-site contractors offer a wide variety of boat and engine repairs.
To qualify for the Clean Marina award, office assistant Judy Hollerbach and staff throughout the yard made a number of improvements. In the office, a lot of time was spent preparing legally required safety and stormwater plans and documenting staff training on all aspects of waste management and pollution prevention. In the boatyard, an extensive clean up of the railway repair areas was done and the areas were lined with new filter cloth to capture debris from work done there. The dockmaster, Buddy Raley, ensured that all waste collected for recycling is handled properly. The yard recycles used oil, oil filters, batteries, and antifreeze. Waste gasoline, solvents or old paints are handled by a licensed waste hauler for proper disposal as well.
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Best Practices Reminder
Spring is here and marinas are back to life after the winter. Here are some seasonal reminders from the Clean Marina Program:
- Marinas with 50 slips or more are required to have a pump-out station and must be able to accept waste from portable toilets (with a wand attachment or dump station).Grant funding is available for new, replacement, or upgraded pump-out units. Grant funds are also available for operations and maintenance expenses. To learn more, contact Ms. Kitty Riggin at 410-260-8772 or email [email protected] .
- Managers of facilities covered under the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas (those that conduct boat repair) are required to inspect stormwater controls annually (such as settling tanks or landscaping swales or stones), and make any repairs necessary. All such inspections and repairs should be documented in the facility's stormwater management plan.
- Activities of contractors and "do it yourself" boaters should be controlled through clear environmental rules in the marina. Marina "environmental rules" can be clearly posted on signs in boat repair areas and in written agreeements as well. Sample rules can be found in the Clean Marina Guidebook.
- Fuel spill response kits should be checked each spring and cleaned or re-supplied as needed. Staff should be shown where they are kept and how to deploy a boom in the event of a spill. Emergency phone numbers and instructions should be kept inside the kit.
- Used oil and antifreeze can be recycled. The Maryland Environmental Service maintains a list of free public collection tanks. Marinas should print and post this information for boaters and contractors.
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Green Gallon Project Lets Marinas Fight Climate Change
(As reported in Marina Dock Age February 2010 e-newsletter.)
Until now, marinas have never considered their fuel docks as solutions to climate change. On the contrary, marinas pump fuel at their docks, and when boaters burn fuel, carbon emissions are emitted into the atmosphere.
However, a new project called the Green Gallon Project may soon change that perception by turning the fuel dock into an emissions fighting tool. Marinas participating in the Green Gallon Project allow their boaters to add a surcharge of one percent onto their gas dock bill that will go toward buying renewable energy. Although this project was just recently started and marinas have yet to implement it, several marinas have expressed interest in the project, according to Captain Dan Kipnis, founder of the Green Gallon Project.
To learn more about the project including how to participate, click here. |
Keeping Butts out of the Water
(Photo courtesy of Keep Palm Beach Beautiful, Inc.)
The Boat U.S. Foundation is looking for marina partners for a cigarette litter prevention program with Keep America Beautiful, a nationwide non-profit organization that strives for practical approaches to protecting the environment. Cigarette butts were the most common item found on the world's beaches at the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup.
In 2009 the Foundation worked with over 30 marinas around the country that were interested in tackling their cigarette litter problems. "Keep America Beautiful" provided each marina with a cash grant to purchase cigarette ash receptacles and a supply of portable ashtrays for use on boats. Marinas were asked to install the receptacles, distribute the portable ashtrays, and educate their customers about the importance of properly disposing of cigarette butts.
Participating marinas saw on average a 70 percent reduction in the amount of cigarette litter as a result of the program, which ultimately means less will end up on a beach.
Marinas wishing to repeat this success and join the program for 2010 need to complete a short questionnaire to be considered. A total of 50 marinas are needed and, if selected, will receive funds to cover the cost of ash receptacles and a supply of portable ashtrays. The deadline for applications is April 16th.
The Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. It provides educational outreach directly to boaters with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded in 1981 and is funded primarily by the half million members of BoatU.S.
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