Fishing line bins promote conservation at state parks
Mitchell Warren
Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: News
Terry Edwards, head of maintenance and security at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, has his own reasons for enjoying the bins installed at Nebraska's lakes. Admitting that he was skeptical about the use of the bins, Edwards said that the bins have been a success at keeping the park cleaner than it had been in the past.
"The bins are the best thing they've done for the lakes," Edwards said.
Before the bins were installed, Two Rivers had a hard time controlling used fishing line that had been left behind.
Reduced amounts of used fishing line in the lakes and on the grounds has also made the work of Two Rivers' staff much easier. "Line gets stuck in our lawn mowers," Edwards said. Less fishing line on the ground makes keeping the area clean easier.
The program operates through a network of sponsors and volunteers. Anyone can be a sponsor, from a lone individual to a large corporation. A pamphlet from the association reads, "We R.S.V.P all fishing line recycling bins!"
R.S.V.P stands for Request, Sponsor, Volunteer and Permission, which describes the process of setting up a recycling bin. After a request has been made for a bin, a sponsor is found to fund the bin, which is then maintained by volunteers. Permission must be obtained from the owner of the property where the container will be placed. Anybody can request a bin.
Volunteers check the bins a couple times a month. Boxes of line are then sent to Berkley Fishing to be processed into fishing structure. This structure is then given to Nebraska Game and Parks to be placed into state lakes.
Although the recycling program has grown over the past two years, it started from meager roots. At its conception, the program served to "keep the lights on," Wagle said, "at one point we pretty much were the bin program."
However, after two years, the program has expanded to become the "poster child" for the association's future plans. It hopes to expand its programs to deliver trash removal services to parks in Nebraska.
"The bins call attention to the problem of stewardship at the parks and lakes," Wagle said, "they are a jump off program."
"The bins are the best thing they've done for the lakes," Edwards said.
Before the bins were installed, Two Rivers had a hard time controlling used fishing line that had been left behind.
Reduced amounts of used fishing line in the lakes and on the grounds has also made the work of Two Rivers' staff much easier. "Line gets stuck in our lawn mowers," Edwards said. Less fishing line on the ground makes keeping the area clean easier.
The program operates through a network of sponsors and volunteers. Anyone can be a sponsor, from a lone individual to a large corporation. A pamphlet from the association reads, "We R.S.V.P all fishing line recycling bins!"
R.S.V.P stands for Request, Sponsor, Volunteer and Permission, which describes the process of setting up a recycling bin. After a request has been made for a bin, a sponsor is found to fund the bin, which is then maintained by volunteers. Permission must be obtained from the owner of the property where the container will be placed. Anybody can request a bin.
Volunteers check the bins a couple times a month. Boxes of line are then sent to Berkley Fishing to be processed into fishing structure. This structure is then given to Nebraska Game and Parks to be placed into state lakes.
Although the recycling program has grown over the past two years, it started from meager roots. At its conception, the program served to "keep the lights on," Wagle said, "at one point we pretty much were the bin program."
However, after two years, the program has expanded to become the "poster child" for the association's future plans. It hopes to expand its programs to deliver trash removal services to parks in Nebraska.
"The bins call attention to the problem of stewardship at the parks and lakes," Wagle said, "they are a jump off program."
Be the first to comment on this story