Queen Anne’s County Wraps Up Another Successful Year of Boat Shrinkwrap Recycling
Queen Anne’s County, in partnership with Plastic Free QAC, the Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM), and several local businesses, has concluded the 2025 Boat Shrinkwrap Recycling season with strong results and growing community participation.
This year's initiative saw continued momentum in the effort to reduce single-use plastic waste generated by winterized recreational boats. With an estimated 5,000 boats in Queen Anne’s County, this program helps divert tons of plastic shrinkwrap from landfills each year.
Key Outcomes from the 2025 Season:
- 316 bags were distributed to community partners, including West Marine, ACE Hardware, Kent Island and Centreville Libraries, and two boat service companies—Pocket Yachts and Atlantic Boat Services.
- A total of 10,112 pounds (5.1 tons) of shrinkwrap was collected at the designated dumpster hosted by Queen Anne’s County Public Works at the Grasonville Transfer Station.
Queen Anne’s County would like to extend a special thank you to the local businesses and organizations that partnered with us to distribute recycling bags and program information to boat owners. With the support of West Marine in Chester, Ace Rommel Hardware in Stevensville, and the Queen Anne's County Library branches in Centreville and Stevensville, the County was able to broaden community outreach and ensure residents had easy access to bags—at no cost—thanks to funding from the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners.
While the program experienced the loss of two participating marinas which accounted for the lower overall amount of plastic collected, it gained notable traction among individual boat owners, signaling growing awareness and support for sustainable practices across the county.
“We’re proud to see this initiative continue to evolve,” said Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Phil Dumenil. “It’s a shining example of how local government, nonprofits, businesses, and residents can come together to create lasting environmental impact.”
Plastic Free QAC led the effort once again, building relationships with local retailers, promoting participation, and ensuring residents had access to recycling bags. The County also thanks Plastic Free QAC Treasurer Connie Zillig for her detailed tracking of distribution and collection data, and all the partners who helped make this another successful season. With 5.1 tons of plastic shrinkwrap now diverted from the landfill, Queen Anne’s County is setting the course for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
For more information about the Boat Shrinkwrap Recycling Program or to get involved in the 2026 season, visit www.qac.org or contact Plastic Free QAC.