California Fishing Line Recycling Program
FISHING LINE RECYCLING STATIONS
Fishing line that is improperly disposed of, broken, or abandoned in the environment can entangle and kill wildlife and cause boat damage. Since the line is not biodegradable it can remain in the environment for many years.
Wildlife may suffer from loss of limbs from line entanglement and even death from gangrenous infection, or ingestion of the line. Fishing line discarded in our waterways also fouls boat propellers which are a serious litter problem, especially around boat ramps and fishing areas. Even when we dispose the line in trash bins it still goes to the landfill which creates the same hazards for wildlife, unless it is cut into small pieces. One solution to the problem is to have recycling containers available to boaters and fishermen to properly discard their used line.
The California State Parks and the California Coastal Commission’s Boating Clean and Green program, the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Marine Debris Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation have placed recycling containers at various locations throughout the State. Please check the list of line recycling container locations that participate in recycling line, or view the new map below.
If you are not near any of these recycling locations, please mail your used fishing line to Berkley Recycling Collection Center at 1900 18th street, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360-1099
View Fishing Line Stations in a larger map
Fishing Line Recycling
Is your boating facility interested in helping reducing in our waterways?
It is easy! Volunteer to build and maintain a recycling location at a fishing spot near you, such as a boat launch ramp, pier or park. Check the construction guidelines. We can send you the stickers for your station(s). For more information about this program, call or email Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905; vmatuk@coastal.ca.gov.
California "Stow it, Don't Throw it"
People of all ages, whether they fish or not, can do something to help prevent fishing line from entering the environment. Constructing and distributing simple, portable fishing line containers can help people keep hold of their fishing line until they get to a recycling collection site or a secure trash can. Constructing these containers is a great project for classrooms, environmental clubs, scout troops, and community groups of all kinds. Please visit our California "Stow it, Don't Throw it" Program to learn how to get involved.