The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) has provided feedback on the proposed Minnesota Boat Wrap Stewardship Plan, aiming to ensure that the program minimizes the financial and operational impact on marine retailers across the state.
In a comment letter submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Commercial and Industrial Flexible Film Recycling Organization (CIFFRO) on Thursday, May 15, 2025, the MRAA emphasized the need for practical implementation strategies that consider the unique challenges faced by Minnesota’s small, family-owned marine businesses.
Need for Financial Support Mechanisms
While MRAA supports the program’s objective to divert boat wrap from the waste stream, it expressed concerns about the burden the proposed collection processes may place on marine retailers. Specifically, MRAA highlighted the potential increase in labor costs for businesses required to clean and sort boat wrap for collection. MRAA recommended that CIFFRO and MPCA establish financial support mechanisms to offset these costs, thereby preventing the additional expenses from being passed on to consumers.
MRAA Advocates for Grace Period
Furthermore, MRAA advocated for a “grace period” until January 1, 2026, for non-compliant producers to join the Stewardship Organization, providing time for further outreach and education to ensure more brands participate in the program.
An Offer to Collaborate
MRAA also proposed that marine retailers, boat storage facilities and marinas be exempted from stringent cleaning requirements if no financial assistance is provided to support these efforts. Additionally, the association offered to collaborate with CIFFRO and MPCA to identify new collection locations, leveraging its network of Minnesota members to expand the program’s reach effectively.
MRAA remains committed to working closely with regulatory bodies to develop an equitable Minnesota Boat Wrap Stewardship Program that achieves environmental goals without placing undue pressure on Minnesota’s recreational marine businesses. For further inquiries about the MRAA advocating for marine retailers or to get involved, please contact Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, at Chad@mraa.com.
