Fishing LINE RECYCLING Containers

We are building these fishing line containers for several locations around the park. You, your family, or group can get involved with protecting our wildlife by building for your park or fishing hole! Thanks to FLANO member for bringing this project to the group!

Program: Year of the Fish, Fishing Line Recycling
Cost Estimate: $64

Purpose
Begin and maintain a Monofilament Recycling Program
 
Background
Monofilament poses a huge danger to marine and human life when left in the environment.  Monofilament fishing line can injure swimmers and boaters, foul boat propellers, entangle and poison wildlife, and more. Also, monofilament doesn’t biodegrade – so it last in the environment for up to 600 years. Because monofilament line is designed to be almost invisible in the water, animals will often swim into it and become entangled, or accidentally swallow it. When an animal becomes entangled, the line cuts through the animal’s skin easily. For many animals, this can mean losing a limb, fin, or a lot of blood. These wounds can also easily contract infections such as gangrene, which can cause them to die rather quickly. If an animal swallows fishing line, the animal may starve to death because it feels full, but isn’t actually getting any nutrients. Not to mention – all of this causes the animals to suffer greatly. 
Taken from: (http://nmlc.org/2011/06/monofilament-recycling-program-underway/)

Goals

1. Heighten awareness about the negative impacts that fishing line debris has on human welfare, marine life, and water quality.
2. Decrease the amount of fishing line entering and remaining in the natural environment.
3. Increase the amount of fishing line being recycled.

Methods

1. Determine optimal location for PVC collector containers.
2. Monofilament Recycling Tube Construction
3. Maintenance

Determine optimal location for PVC collector containers.

• Spillway at Park Lake, Fishing Peer, and Dock on Park Lake 

Monofilament Recycling Tube Construction
Instructions taken from Fly Fishing International (https://flyfishersinternational.org/Conservation/ProjectsPrograms/MonofilamentRecyclingProject/tabid/283/Default.aspx)

Assembly Instructions
Materials list

• 4”x30” abs pipe
• 4” abs 90 degree elbow
• 4”abs cleanout
• 4”abs plug(with ½” hole drilled in bottom)
• 2- Sammy screws 3/8” bolt size for wood or steel
• 2- 3/8”x 1” hex head bolts
• 2- 3/8” flat washers
• abs glue
• recycling decal, FFF logo decal, club or sponsor decal

Tool list         

• Hacksaw to cut abs pipe
• Drill motor with ½ inch drill bit

 
How to Assemble           

1. Cut abs pipe into 30 inch or 24 inch sections from 10 foot piece.
2. Glue 90 elbow to one end of pipe, this becomes the top.
3. Glue cleanout to opposite end, this becomes the bottom
4. Drill ½ inch hole in center of plug; this is to let water out (use ½ inch twist or spade drill).
5. Accurately drill a ½ inch hole through the back side of the 90 elbow and ½” hole through the smooth section off the cleanout and the pipe. Be careful to keep the holes in line with the centerline of the pipe.

In the Field
Tools List:

• Cordless drill motor with Sammy installation tool
• 24 inch level
• Tape Measure
• Pencil or marker
• 9/16 inch wrench short in length

How to install

1. Measure the distance of holes drilled in back of tube and carefully transfer to existing post, making sure marks are in line and plumb.
2. Install Sammy’s with cordless drill and Sammy tool or socket wrench.
3. Screw 3/8 inch bolt into Sammy through bottom hole first. This helps to support the tube before installing the top screw
4. Screw the top bolt into the top Sammy through the inside of the tube. This can be a little difficult.
5. Apply the decals; take a photo and move on to the next tube!

Maintenance
Mail Fishing Line Yearly to: Pure Fishing America (Berkley) accepts monofilament for recycling. Contact Berkley at 1-800-BERKLEY or 1900 18th Street, Spirit Lake, IA 51360-1041.

---