How a Cohasset teen is working to make his coastal town an environmentally responsible one

It’s summertime in Massachusetts, which means people are flocking to the seaside state’s many boating destinations.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association estimates the recreational boating industry contributes about $5 billion annually to the Bay State’s economy. But, that activity can come with other costs like marine pollution from plastics.

Every year, thousands of boat owners cover their boats for the winter using shrink wrap, a material that’s recycled differently than plastic bottles and containers, and cannot go in most curbside recycling bins.

This week’s JOY BEAT honoree is a young man working to help his coastal community be an environmentally responsible one.

Declan Bergan is founder of the Cohasset Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program. He joined GBH’s All Things Considered Host Arun Rath to talk about his volunteer community effort that aims to keep plastic out of South Shore waters and landfills by providing a free shrink wrap pickup service. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of their conversation:

Arun Rath: I think I read that your idea for this program was inspired by some time you spent interning at the Massachusetts State House. Tell us more about how you got the idea to start this program.

Declan Bergan: Yes, so two summers ago, I was fortunate enough to be an intern for the Massachusetts State Environmental Committee, and being — I think a rising junior in high school — I was given the task of researching a bill about shrink wrap, how to properly dispose of it, and how to make sure it’s staying out of our waterways and our environment. I didn’t really know too much about the issue prior to being assigned the project, but then after learning so much about it, I really understood the negative impacts that it has. And then, I was later able to testify before the legislature. That was last spring, but unfortunately [the bill] did not pass. So, this is my opportunity and initiative to make a positive impact with this program.

Rath: It’s brilliant. I didn’t even know that this was a thing before hearing about your program. Tell us a bit more about what makes boat shrink wrap need its own recycling. Why is it a problem and you can’t just put it in the bin?

Bergan: It’s actually quite simple when you think about it. I mean, as a boat owner living in New England, the winters are very harsh with snow, a lot of rain, cold temperatures. So you want your boat to be protected. So, the plastics that they use are very durable and what comes with being very durable means that they do not decompose well and are not easily recyclable. So, my program’s job is to separate and collect this shrink wrap so I can then bring it to a more specific recycling place that is able to handle this durable plastic and then repurpose it.

Rath: Tell us more about that. What happens to the wrap once it’s picked up and going to this more specialized facility?

Bergan: So, with Republic Services, who have been a great help in this program, I can bring this used shrink wrap in, and then they’ll be able to break it down into smaller plastics and then repurpose it or sell it to be used in different ways. But just overall, making sure that this very harmful plastics are staying out of our waterways, out of landfills, just having an opportunity to make that small change in our environment is all I can do. 

Rath: What’s the kind of response you’re getting from people when you’re going to collect this and from the community?

Bergan: It’s been a great response especially living in a coastal town like Cohasset, very small scale. So I was able to start my program just in the town, reaching out to neighbors, reaching out to the local marinas and the yacht club, just looking like if I can make small impacts locally, but it’s been very well received. I’ve then started to expand to other parts of the South Shore from like Weymouth to Kingston. Just being able to expand has been amazing and it’s been very well received.
 
Rath: Wow. Is it working with your friends and neighbors like that that has let you expand this network?

Bergan: Yeah. I think it’s just the problem, or the struggle, that I had originally was the trying to get my name out there. I mean, this is just my self-run program. So, just trying to get participants was a little slow at the beginning, but then with a little bit of help from people in my town and then like boatyards, marinas, being able to get the word out and it’s been super successful. So, I’m really appreciative for that. 

Rath: So, as you look ahead to next recycling season next year when the wrapping is coming off of the boats, are there things you’ve learned this year that you’re going to apply going forward?

Bergan: Yes, definitely. It was not easy at the beginning. Definitely have had some hurdles that I needed to jump through. But I think one issue is just really educating the participants in the process that it does need to be only the shrink wrap. Before transporting the shrink wrap to Republic Services, I spent probably this past weekend like eight hours on trying to clean the shrink wrap and making sure it’s just shrink wrap. There were straps, tape, so that has been a struggle, but I was able to overcome it and everything ended up going great. But, just— really just educating the proper way to do it would be my advice for next year.
 
Rath: It doesn’t sound like easy work, but where do you find the pleasure? Where do you find the joy in it?

Bergan: Well, I think it just comes from a place where I’m able to do good for the community and then just being able to know that, like, I have the opportunity to make a small impact. I know it’s probably small scale at this point, but hopefully it can inspire bigger and better acts of change and then just overall being able to protect nature. I mean, I’m someone who spends most of my time outside and being able to protect this beautiful place we live in it’s been a real honor and it brings genuine joy.

If you would like to make a nomination for the Joy Beat, leave us a voicemail at 617-300-BEAT [2328].