Protecting the water: Area kids build fishing line recycling bins

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·4 min read

MONROE COUNTY — Used fishing line creates a lot of waste that often ends up in the water and parking lots.

The Monroe Boat Club Association hopes to reduce the waste through its new fishing line recycling effort, which it believes is the first project of its kind in southeast Michigan.

Last Friday, MBC-A, the nonprofit arm of the Monroe Boat Club, hosted a fishing line recycling bin assembly party. Area teens built 15 fishing line recycling bins. Each receptacle can hold three gallons of line.

Three of the bins have already been installed at Michigan Department of Natural Resources sites that were chosen by Officer Chad Cook with Sterling State Park and the DNR.

Shown with the Monroe Boat Club Association's completed fishing line recycling bins are (from left): Trent Miller, Enzo Collino, Kira Goldsmith, Ezra Powell, Ava Collino and Kyle Goldsmith.
Shown with the Monroe Boat Club Association's completed fishing line recycling bins are (from left): Trent Miller, Enzo Collino, Kira Goldsmith, Ezra Powell, Ava Collino and Kyle Goldsmith.

“They are installed at the Hoffman Fishing Site in Bolles Harbor and are ready to collect used monofilament fishing line right now," said David Ryan, president of the Monroe Boat Club Association. "The units for the Sterling State Park and Bolles Harbor boat ramps will be installed and ready to use as soon as we can get them put up, within the next week or two. These will be a convenient way to collect the line and keep it out of the waterways."

A fishing line recycling bin is shown at the Hoffman Fishing Site in Bolles Harbor.
A fishing line recycling bin is shown at the Hoffman Fishing Site in Bolles Harbor.

Fishing line recycling is a new national trend.

“These bins have become popular across the country," Ryan said. "We believe our bins will be the first ones to be deployed in southeast Michigan. That was why the Michigan DNR was interested in these."

The MBC-A's bin design was inspired by similar containers made through the Partners for Clean Streams, an environmental nonprofit group in Maumee, Ohio, Ryan said. That organization's bins were installed along the Maumee River, from Grand Rapids to Point Place.

Trent Miller and Kira Goldsmith install endcaps for each recycling bin.
Trent Miller and Kira Goldsmith install endcaps for each recycling bin.

In Monroe, six area middle and high school students built the bins last week, under the direction of Tara Goldsmith, MBC Auxiliary president.

“They had a great assembly line set up, and it took about an hour,” Goldsmith said.

Most of the builders were children and grandchildren of boat club members, Ryan said.

Kyle Goldsmith drills drain holes in each removable cap.
Kyle Goldsmith drills drain holes in each removable cap.

“These kids are always great about stepping up and helping out with anything that’s asked of them. They’ve grown up in the boat club together. They’re great kids and also great friends, so they enjoy any opportunity to hang out,” Goldsmith said.

The MBC-A bought and prepared the materials.

Ava Collino and Kira Goldsmith work at the label and graphics station at the recent workshop.
Ava Collino and Kira Goldsmith work at the label and graphics station at the recent workshop.

“We purchased the PVC parts and 10-foot lengths of the pipe, and we had everything pre-cut and ready for the kids' assembly. The bins are made from a 24-inch long by 6-inch tube, a 90-degree elbow and a fitting with a screw-on plug at the bottom to empty the bins,” Ryan said. “We had the kids fit and assemble them with PVC glue and attach informational labels to each finished unit.”

Officers and staff from the Michigan DNR and Monroe Boat Club volunteers will empty the bins. The used line will be sent to the Berkley Fishing Company of Spirit Lake, Iowa in pre-paid shipping containers provided by Berkley.

“I believe that Berkley Co. will put the recycled content into new line and lures,” Ryan said.

Fishing season has already begun in Monroe County, Ryan said.

Previous Coverage: Monroe-area boat clubs to arrange for recycling of boat shrink wrap

“Fishing season in our area began in March for those willing to face the colder weather, and its's in full swing right now with excellent perch, rainbow trout and walleye being caught every day,” Ryan said.

Fishing line recycling isn’t the MBC-A's first environmental project. Several years ago the club began recycling plastic boat wrap, a program that today involves other area marinas. The organization also is looking into other recycling efforts.

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“We do continue the boat stretch wrap recycling program, and this year all boats stored at Monroe Boat Club are required to recycle the plastic; no more throwing any away," Ryan said. "The boat owners have been very supportive of the program and wanted to eliminate the large dumpster with the plastic going to the landfill. Mr. Terry Gerin, owner of Big Daddy's Marina in Bolles Harbor, also has every boat from his marina using the boat plastic recycle system, and Trout’s Yacht Basin and Harbor Marine also participate."

Next up could be glass recycling.

“MBC is looking to implement recycling of glass products that are generated from the club's food and beverage services in the near future," Ryan said. "Tara Goldsmith is looking into the glass recycling project."

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Protecting the water: Area kids build fishing line recycling bins