Soft Bait Recycling:

There is no nationwide program for recycling soft baits. Some organizations accept them locally to melt down and recast into new lures.

We’re open to ideas on how to start a nationwide program, how to encourage local recycling, end products for reusing the materials or whatever you think might solve the problem of used soft baits.

Fishing Line Recycling

Step 1: Line is collected in bins through programs like BoatUS Foundation’s Reel In and Recycle program. Some places collect in cardboard boxes or other collection methods.

Pain points: Trash, hooks, weights and other items sometimes ends up in bins. These have to be removed by hand and can negatively impact the usefulness of the line for recycling. Soft baits sometimes end up in the bins and melt on the line. They leave a film that makes the line unusable for recycling and then can only be incinerated.

Step 2. Volunteers collect the line. They remove trash, hooks and any other debris. They box up the line and send it to Berkley’s facility in Iowa.

Pain points: Labor intensive for volunteers to clean the line. Time and cost of shipping line to facility.

Step 3: Line arrives at Berkley and is again cleaned of debris and then sent to recycling facility.

Pain points: Labor intensive for staff to remove debris items and repackage line for shipment to recycling facility

Step 4: Line is received at recycling facility. The line is washed, checked for debris again and evaluated if it can be used in recycled product or if it is too contaminated.

Pain points: Labor intensive for staff to clean and remove debris. Line that is contaminated cannot be recycled and must be incinerated. The lag time from when someone places line into the bin and when it reaches the recycling facility is long.

Step 5. Line is melted down into plastic pellets and then sold as raw material for manufacturing. Some items created are benches and toys. Line that is not suitable for reuse is incinerated and used as a fuel source.

Possible improvements: What other processes besides melting could be used? What else could be done with the contaminated line? What else could be made from this material? How? Are there new end products that will engage those who are using the fishing line and baits to encourage them to recycle?

Additional Resource Videos

Precious Plastic - create things from plastic
Recycling Soft Plastic Baits - Soft Plastic Lure Making
The BEST way to RECYCLE your used plastic baits! $$$ DIY