Time to Recycle Your Shrink Wrap

recycle your shrink wrap

Spring is officially here in Michigan, and most of us can’t wait to resume the outdoor lives we put away with our patio furniture in the fall. We are looking forward to enjoying the great outdoors again, including hiking, camping, and boating. If you shrink wrapped your boat, convertible, or outdoor furniture, soon it will be time to remove it. You may be wondering how to dispose of this excess shrink wrap. There’s good news: shrink wrap is recyclable. In this blog we will give you tips on how you can recycle your shrink wrap. 

What To Do with Used Shrink Wrap

You have a few options when it comes to your used shrink wrap. You can call a manufacturer that recycles, and they will take it. You can contact your local recycling center and ask if they take shrink film. Shrink film is made from different kinds of plastic, so you should know what yours is made from. At Zormot, we do not use recycled plastic. Our LDPE #4 (Low-Density Polyethylene) shrink film is manufactured from 100% virgin resin. 

Our home Great Lakes state of Michigan has had a Michigan Clean Marina Program since 2007 to give boaters an affordable option to recycle their shrink wrap, and other recycling programs are available throughout the state. Michigan Sea Grant reports that over 50 Michigan marinas participate in shrink-wrap recycling programs. This saves between 100,000 and 200,000 pounds of shrink wrap from landfills and benefits the marinas as well. 

How To Recycle Your Shrink Wrap

In order to recycle any shrink wrap you remove, you have to prepare it. This will protect the machinery that shreds the wrap and make it easier to recycle into new plastic. There are three steps to this process:

  1. You will need to remove any strapping, lumber, nails, vents, and zippers. Fortunately, the zippers and vents, if they are in good condition, can be saved and used again next winter. 
  2. Keep the wrap as clean as possible. Sand and gravel makes it harder to recycle. It should also be completely dry. 
  3. Depending on what your recycling program requires, you will need to either roll or bag the shrink wrap before you turn it in. Keep it loose when you roll it. 

If you are located in a different state, there should be local recycling programs you can check into. The #4 LDPE shrink wrap we manufacture is a common plastic type and is 100% recyclable, so call your local recycling center. If you need more information about our shrink wrap, contact us at Zormot. We are always happy to help. 

 

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