The Boston Harbor Association coordinates the Boston Harbor Marine Debris Removal Program, with funding provided by the MWRA, Massport, the City of Boston, and Eastern Salt Company. From June through September, a boat operated by on-water contractor Boston Line & Service Co. removes floatable debris from the Inner Harbor, Fort Point Channel, and Chelsea Creek.
Boston Line & Service Co. boat retrieving  debris from the harbor.

To date, more that 220 tons of marine debris have been removed during the past nine summers. For more information on The Boston Harbor Association's Marine Debris Cleanup Program or to get your marina or yacht club involved in a cleaner Boston Harbor, please call 617-482-1722.

TBHA Now: Summer 2009 Marine Debris Removal and Prevention Project

On Monday, 6 July 2009, thanks to generous funding from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the City of Boston, Massport, and Eastern Salt Company, The Boston Harbor Association launched its 10th annual Boston Harbor Debris Removal Program to ensure a cleaner harbor. More than 220 tons of debris have been removed since the program began in 2000, eliminating navigational hazards and making the harbor safer and more inviting for swimmers, boaters, and marine life. At the 6 July press conference, Mayor Menino also announced that the City of Boston is funding a new pumpout boat, operated by UMass Boston.

Summer 2008 Project Highlights

The Summer 2008 Boston Harbor Marine Debris Cleanup Program provided debris removal coverage throughout the Inner Harbor, including regular sweeps of high visibility areas and extensive cleanup coverage after the 4th of July Boston Pops Concert on the Charles River and after other large gatherings and public events. Last summer, particular attention was paid to removing debris such as plastic bottles, wrappers, paper cups, cigarette butts, and small pieces of wood in high activity areas such as Inner Harbor, Fort Point Channel, Charles River, Chelsea Creek, and Mystic River. The 2008 debris removal program also focused on Pleasure Bay, a popular swimming area in South Boston.

Boston Line & Service noticed a decline in the overall amount of debris found in the Harbor since the project’s start in 2000. Some of the most common debris items found in Boston Harbor:

The 2008 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 (click here for a copy of the summary).

Currently, the most significant debris source in Boston Harbor are plastic bottles, which made up over 20 percent of the debris removed in summer 2007. In response, the Summer 2008 Marine Debris Cleanup Project launched a new effort to recycle all plastic bottles collected as part of TBHA’s initiative to increase environmental sustainability in Boston Harbor. 
  

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