Anglers cast from every conceivable open space on the shores of New York Harbor. Marine debris is a chronic problem in city waters, resulting in littered shorelines and creating hazards for shore walkers, boaters and wildlife.

Going Coastal launched the city’s first large-scale monofilament fishing line recycling programs installing collection bins at marinas, fishing piers and tackle shops in the five boroughs.

Monofilament is a high-density plastic and requires a special recycling process. It is non-biodegradable and can last about 600 years in the marine environment posing an entanglement hazard for all marine life.  Even fishing line thrown in the garbage can find its way into and along the environment or marine waters, either by blowing out of the garbage can or landfill, or by being taken out by birds or animals.

Thirty-five recovery locations have been established around the city. Anglers drop their used fishing line in collection bins - PVC plastic tubes at outdoor sites and indoor cardboard display cartons. The used fishing line is collected and then shipped to Pure Fishing America, the parent company of Berkley fishing line. The line is ground into tiny pieces, melted down and then remolded into various products, such as spools for fishing line, tackle boxes and freshwater fish habitats.

Each recycling station is provided UPS postage-paid labels and containers to return the spent line to Berkley's Pure Fishing for recycling into fish habitat. Outreach brochures and signage explain the importance of recycling fishing line. The collection sites are monitored by volunteers to record the quantity of materials collected.

This project was supported by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and support from BoatUS Foundation which provided PVC bins and Berkley which provided indoor displays, postage-paid shipping cartons and line recycling.

Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Sites