2026 Pilot Program · Cohasset, MA

Recycle your
boat shrink wrap.
For free.

Keep plastic out of South Shore waters. Cohasset's new community program makes it easy — and completely free for residents.

Email us to get started Learn how it works

60+

tons recycled on Cape Cod in 2025

cost to Cohasset residents

2018

year WHOI Sea Grant launched the Cape Cod model we're following

100%

of accepted wrap kept out of landfills

Simple process

How it works

Four steps is all it takes. We handle the hard part — you just need to get the wrap clean and reach out.

Remove all non-wrap material

Strip off rope, plastic straps, wood frames, zipper doors, and ventilation panels. Only shrink wrap goes in.

Clean and dry the wrap

Make sure the wrap is free of standing water and significant dirt before bundling.

Bundle it up

Roll or fold tightly like a sleeping bag. If you tie it, use a strip of shrink wrap itself — no tape or straps.

Email us to arrange drop-off

We'll coordinate a convenient drop-off time and location. No cost to you as a Cohasset resident.

Preparation guide

What to do — and what not to

Contaminated wrap cannot be recycled and will be rejected. Follow these guidelines to make sure your wrap qualifies.

What to do

✓ Remove all rope, strapping, wood frames, zipper doors, and vents before bundling.
✓ Make sure the wrap is clean and dry — no standing water or significant dirt.
✓ Roll or fold wrap tightly and bundle it like a sleeping bag.
✓ If you plan to bundle the wrap, please tie it using a strip of the shrink wrap itself — no straps or tape.

What not to include

✗ Plastic straps or cinch bands — cut the wrap above them so they fall away.
✗ Zipper doors, ventilation panels, or any non-shrink-wrap material.
✗ Rope, wood, or metal framing from the support structure.
✗ Wet or heavily soiled wrap that hasn't been cleaned and dried.

About this program

Started by a student.
Built for a community.

Declan testifying before the Massachusetts Legislature in support of H.889, An Act relative to boat wrap recycling.

Declan Bergan

Founder · Thayer Academy · Cohasset, MA

The Cohasset Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program was founded by Declan Bergan, a student at Thayer Academy and lifelong Cohasset resident with a deep connection to the South Shore's coastal environment.

Declan's path to this program began with an internship at the Massachusetts State House, where he worked with the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. There, he was asked to research and develop recommendations on proposed legislation — H.889, An Act relative to boat wrap recycling — that would establish a statewide shrink wrap recycling program.

In the course of that research, Declan discovered the WHOI Sea Grant program on Cape Cod, which had been quietly and successfully diverting tens of thousands of pounds of plastic from the waste stream every year. Impressed by its model and proven results — over 60 tons recycled annually — he became a vocal advocate for bringing similar access to communities across Massachusetts.

Declan later returned to the State House to testify in support of H.889, making the case directly to legislators for why this type of infrastructure matters. But rather than wait for statewide action to take shape, he decided to act locally and launch a pilot program in his own community.

He consulted with WHOI Sea Grant and drew on four years of experience with the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research, where he has worked on South Shore environmental initiatives. The program today is supported by community partners including Troupe Waste and Republic Services, along with generous support from local community members who share the same commitment to protecting Cohasset's coastline.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the program.

This pilot program is currently available free of charge to Cohasset residents. If you live in a neighboring South Shore community and are interested in participating, email us and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

Boat shrink wrap is made of polyethylene — the same plastic used in plastic bags and many food packaging materials. It is 100% recyclable when clean and free of contamination. Most of it currently ends up in landfills because no local recycling infrastructure existed — until now.

The wrap is transported to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), where it is baled and sold on the commodities market to be reprocessed into new plastic products. This is the same process used by the WHOI Sea Grant Cape Cod program, which has recycled more than 60 tons since 2018.

Shrink wrap and most film plastics are not accepted in curbside recycling programs because they jam sorting equipment at recycling facilities. This program uses a specialized recycler that handles film plastics correctly.

Some surface dust is usually fine, but heavily soiled or wet wrap cannot be accepted. When in doubt, wipe it down and let it dry before bundling. If the recycler rejects the material due to contamination, the entire batch is affected — so clean wrap helps everyone.

This Cohasset pilot program is independently organized and modeled on the successful WHOI Sea Grant program that serves Cape Cod towns. We follow their protocols and use the same recycling infrastructure. Learn more about the original program at seagrant.whoi.edu/shrinkwrap.

This pilot is currently designed for individual residents. Commercial quantities from boatyards and marinas may be subject to fees. Please email us to discuss your situation and we'll work with you to find a solution.

Ready to recycle?

Get in touch

One email is all it takes. We'll coordinate a drop-off time that works for you. No cost, no paperwork, no hassle.

For more background on the model this program is based on, visit seagrant.whoi.edu/shrinkwrap.

cohassetrecycles@gmail.com

We'll respond within 1–2 business days

Program area

Cohasset, MA & South Shore

Pilot program — 2026 season

Timing

Spring 2026

Email us now to get on the list

Email cohassetrecycles@gmail.com