Recycle fishing line to help the environment

Discarded fishing line can easily snare fish, geese, ospreys, otters, turtles and other wildlife. Kentucky Fish & Wildlife urges you to make recycling your line their first line of defense.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is working to educate the public and reduce the amount of discarded fishing line and soft plastic baits in public waters of the Commonwealth. These are volunteer-driven programs and we need your help. You may volunteer as an individual or participate as a group. If you would like to be a part of our effort to clean up Kentucky waterways through proper disposal of line, please continue reading for further information. The soft plastic bait recycling program is currently under development and more information will be available soon.

Fishing Line Recovery and Recycling Program (FLRRP)

What is FLRRP?

The KDFWR FLRRP is a statewide effort to educate the public about the harmful effects of discarded fishing line, reduce the amount of discarded fishing line in the environment, and recycle used monofilament along the way.

Why is discarded fishing line an issue?

The simplest explanation is that discarded fishing line is trash and anyone intentionally leaving it behind is littering.

Additionally, most fishing line is non-biodegradable and persists in the environment for upwards of 600 years. It poses threats to wildlife, people, and equipment. Fish, birds, and turtles can become entangled or even ingest discarded line. Unfortunately, some birds find fishing line attractive for nesting material. This enables the young to become entangled in the nest, often resulting in death or the loss of limbs. Any species of bird may become entangled in fishing line, but waterfowl, shorebirds, and fish-eating raptors such as osprey chicks are extremely susceptible to the threats associated with discarded fishing line. Outboard and trolling motors, jet skis, and lawn mowers, among other things, can be damaged by discarded fishing line.

How can I help?

There are several ways that you can help with or provide support for the FLRRP:

Change out fishing line before it becomes a problem.
Recover as much line lost as possible when snagged on trees, rocks, etc.
Deposit all monofilament recovered while fishing in a nearby outdoor collection bin (see map below).
Recycle all monofilament recovered when re-spooling your reels at either an outdoor collection bin or indoor recycling station.
Deposit all empty fishing line spools at an indoor recycling station (see map below).
Volunteer to construct and/or maintain an outdoor collection bin at a location near you.

Where does the recovered line go?

Recovered monofilament is sent to Berkley’s Conservation Institute in Spirit Lake, Iowa. There, the line is sorted, melted, and converted into plastic beads used to make fish habitat structures, tackle boxes, fishing line spools and other items. Other types of line (fluorocarbon, braid, and blends) that are collected are disposed of properly to ensure they do not make it back into the environment.

Interactive map of current collection stations

How to Volunteer

There are two ways to assist with KDFWR fishing line recovery and recycling efforts as a volunteer.

Volunteer individually
This means you, as an individual, acquire the materials to construct, install and regularly maintain a collection bin by removing collected line and trash. Any monofilament may be recycled. Separate cleaned monofilament from all other types of line, hooks, weights, and swivels. Cleaned monofilament should be dropped off at an indoor recycling station. All other line and terminal tackle should be disposed of properly. Alternatively, you can volunteer to maintain an existing collection bin. If a volunteer is needed to maintain an existing collection bin in your area, you can ask to assume that responsibility. The collection and return procedures are the same as outlined above. Please check the map of current collection locations to see if volunteers are needed at lakes near you, or if nearby lakes do not have collection bins. Complete and return a FLRRP volunteer agreement form (PDF) to get the process underway. Thank you in advance for your support of this important program.
Volunteer as a group
This means your group accepts responsibility for the construction and installation of one or more collection bins. The group is responsible for ensuring that the bin is maintained on a regular basis and line and trash are handled appropriately. Collected, clean monofilament should be dropped off at an indoor recycling station and all other line and terminal tackle disposed of properly. Alternatively, your group can volunteer to maintain an existing collection bin. If a volunteer is needed to maintain an existing collection bin in your area, your group can ask to assume that responsibility. The collection and return procedures are the same as outlined above. Please check the map of current collection locations to see if volunteers are needed at lakes near you, or if nearby lakes do not have collection bins. Complete and return a FLRRP volunteer agreement form (PDF) to get the process underway. Thank you in advance for your support of this important program.

Program decals will be distributed after a completed FLRRP Volunteer Form is received and processed. GPS coordinates and a picture of the completed bin will be required for official record keeping.

FLRRP Volunteer Agreement Form (PDF)

Volunteer Data Collection Form (PDF)

Outdoor bin construction and installation (PDF)

For additional information please email fw.fisheries@ky.gov