It said that the pilot “successfully demonstrated that a novel piece-by-piece disassembly, recovery, and recycling approach to dealing with end-of-life boats is both achievable and time efficient”.
Boats are regularly reported as abandoned, sunk or stranded within the Dart, Salcombe-Kingsbridge and Yealm estuaries.
In response, the council launched the project in spring 2024 with assistance from Creekside Boatyard in Dartmouth.
Component parts recovered and recycled from the EOL vessel ranged from stainless steel rigging and bronze winches to the boat’s engine and electronics. Almost 1,500 kg of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) composite was also recovered.
The council said that there is currently no commercial recycling solution in the UK for the composite used in boat hulls, but the team were able to recover and clean the contaminated GRP fibres using a process known as DEECOM®.
Going forward, South Hams hopes to work with partners and local waste management specialists to roll out the project on a larger scale.
Councillor John Mckay, the South Hams executive member for climate change and biodiversity, said: “This research is just the first step in our work to address the issue of abandoned vessels across the South Hams.
“We want to work more closely with our industry partners, harbour authorities, marinas and boat builders. They are the ones who feel more closely the financial and environmental impact of end-of-life boats sitting in their waters and getting in the way of their day-to-day work.
“Projects such as these are so important and go a long way in supporting our ambitions to reduce climate change.”
The project also had the support from the Royal Yachting Association and its environmental programme The Green Blue. The report was compiled by marine environmental specialists Blue Parameters.
James Scott-Anderson from Blue Parameters said: “This project has successfully demonstrated that there is a solution to end-of-life vessels, and that we have options for all kinds of composite waste, and its potential for upcycling.
“It has been a combination of expertise, resources and companies from different sectors and using new technology, which has made this project successful. We have an alternative to landfill for composite waste which will not only benefit the marine sector, but wider ambitions to tackle climate change.
“It is also essential that we move forward and look at how the knowledge gained from this project can be used in the future, and at a larger scale.”
Anyone who spots an abandoned boat can report it here.
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