The Aporia · Rhode Island pilot recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass boats using a $105,000 NOAA grant

Rhode Island's Rhode Island Marine Trade Association Foundation (RIMTA) successfully recycled 80 short tons (approximately 72.6 metric tonnes) of fibreglass from abandoned or derelict boats using a $105,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The pilot project involved shredding fibreglass hulls for use in cement production, aiming to develop a sustainable model for recycling end-of-life vessels. This initiative has attracted interest from multiple states including Maryland, Virginia, California, Washington, and Massachusetts, which are exploring or implementing similar vessel-recycling programs.

Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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In a Rhode Island pilot program, the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association Foundation (RIMTA) recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass from abandoned boats using a $105,000 NOAA grant. The initiative shredded boat hulls and incorporated them into cement production at a manufacturer. This project aims to provide an alternative to landfill disposal for the approximately 200,000 recreational boats reaching the end of their lives annually in the US. RIMTA's executive director Brian Dursi led this "proof of concept" programme which recycled about 72.6 metric tonnes of fibreglass, demonstrating potential for expanding such recycling efforts beyond Rhode Island into other states like Maryland and Virginia.

Written for “Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program

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The programme helped expand interest in vessel recycling beyond Rhode Island, with states including Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, California, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine engaging in the process.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18

🔮 A Rhode Island pilot is demonstrating how fibreglass boat recycling could provide an alternative to sending old and derelict vessels to landfill.

2026-09-18 · Times of India

Rhode Island pilot recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass boats using a $105,000 NOAA grant · mixed framing

A Rhode Island pilot is demonstrating how fibreglass boat recycling could provide an alternative to sending old and derelict vessels to landfill. uncertain

recycling → demonstrate → landfill

The programme shredded fibreglass hulls and sent the material to a cement manufacturer for use in cement production. asserted

programme → shred → production

According to a Rhode Island Marine Trade Association Foundation report, the pilot recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass from derelict and abandoned boats. uncertain

pilot → accord → boats

NOAA later reported that RIMTA recycled nearly 20 metric tonnes of fibreglass in New England during the project period. asserted

RIMTA → report → period

Backed by a $105,000 NOAA grant, the initiative explored how the model could expand beyond Rhode Island as about 200,000 recreational boats reach the end of their usable life in the US each year. uncertain

boats → back → US

How RIMTA tested a new way to reuse old boat hulls The Rhode Island initiative, led by RIMTA executive director Brian Dursi as a “proof of concept” programme. asserted

RIMTA → test → programme

The programme recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass material from derelict or abandoned boats and incorporated it into cement. asserted

programme → recycle → cement

That is about 72.6 metric tonnes, although the original report gives the figure in short tons. asserted

report → give → tons

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the project was part of a broader effort to establish a sustainable model for end-of-life vessel recycling. uncertain

project → accord → recycling

states → help → process

RIMTA successfully recycled nearly 20 metric tons of fibreglass in New England during the project period. asserted

RIMTA → recycle → period

Shredded fibreglass was used in cement production asserted

fibreglass → shred → production

Instead, the shredded material was sent to a cement manufacturer, where it could be used during cement production. uncertain

it → shred → production

When fibreglass from end-of-life boats is co-processed in a cement kiln, it can provide both thermal energy and a replacement for some raw materials used to make cement. asserted

it → co → cement

This approach gave the unwanted boat material a use while addressing a disposal problem that has few established alternatives. asserted

that → give → alternatives

The project also demonstrated how a network involving boat owners, marinas, dismantlers, transporters, shredders and cement producers could be assembled. uncertain

network → demonstrate → owners

However, the process remained expensive, with costs associated with dismantling boats, shredding fibreglass, transporting the material and getting cement kilns to accept it. asserted

kilns → remain → it

Image AI generated asserted

AI → generate → ?

The $105,000 grant aimed to expand boat recycling The programme received a $105,000 NOAA grant to explore whether Rhode Island’s approach could support a national vessel-recycling model. uncertain

approach → aim → model

Several states, including Maryland, Virginia, California, Washington and Massachusetts, became involved in exploring or establishing vessel-recycling programmes. asserted

states → include → programmes

The scale of the problem is significant, with NOAA estimating that about 200,000 recreational boats reach the end of their usable life in the US each year. asserted

boats → estimate → US

However, Rhode Island’s programme was paused after its grant funding ran out, as RIMTA searched for new partnerships and funding to make fibreglass recycling more financially sustainable. asserted

recycling → pause → partnerships

Rhode Island pilot recycled 80 short tons of fibreglass boats using a $105,000 NOAA grant

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