Each summer The Boston Harbor Association coordinates the Boston Harbor Marine Debris Removal Program, thanks to funding provided by the City of Boston, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Massachusetts Port Authority, and Eastern Salt. From July through mid-October, a boat operated by on-water contractor Boston Line & Service Co. spent three to four days each week removing floatable debris from the Inner Harbor, Fort Point Channel, Charles River and Chelsea Creek. To date, more that 200 tons of marine debris have been removed during the past eight summers. For more information on The Boston Harbor Association's Marine Debris Cleanup Project or to get your marina or yacht club involved in a cleaner Boston Harbor, please call 617-482-1722.

Project Highlights

The Boston Harbor Marine Debris Cleanup Project provided cleanup coverage throughout the Inner Harbor, including regular sweeps of high visibility areas and extensive clean up coverage after the 4th of July festivities on the Esplanade and after other large gatherings and public events. This past summer, particular attention was paid to removing debris such as plastic cups, bottles and wrappers from such high activity areas as Fort Point Channel, Long Wharf, East Boston's Piers Park and Rowes Wharf. Boston Line & Service has noticed a decline in the overall amount of debris found in the Harbor since the project's start in 2000.

  (click on map for larger view)

Some of the most common debris items found in Boston Harbor:

• large wood timbers
• construction debris
• plastic bottles
• styrofoam and styrofoam cups
• small pieces of wood
• paper products and wrappers
• cigarette butts and packaging

The 2007 Marine Debris Final Report provides a summary of last summer's project and The Boston Harbor Association's ongoing efforts to help keep Boston Harbor a safer, more enjoyable place to live, work, and play.

Currently, the most significant debris sources in Boston Harbor are large timbers and oversized debris from dilapidated structures and neglected properties on the waterfront, timbers and smaller debris from construction sites on the waterfront, and smaller debris including cups, bottles, cigarette butts, and plastic bags from high-traffic areas, tourist destinations, and recreational boats on Boston Harbor. TBHA works with local conservation commissions, waterfront property owners, code enforcement officials, and marinas and yacht clubs on ways to prevent and remove marine debris.

For more information on The Boston Harbor Association's Marine Debris Cleanup Program, please contact mail@tbha.org or 617-482-1722.
  

The Boston Harbor Association   -   374 Congress Street, Suite 307   -   Boston, MA 02210   -   617-482-1722 (P)   -   617-482-9750 (F)   -   mail@tbha.org