Tyler, Texas – In a practical step to protect local wildlife, three recreation sites around the city now feature fishing‑line recycling bins. The new tubes, placed at Bellwood Lake and the Faulkner and Glass recreation ponds, give anglers a convenient place to deposit used line that can otherwise ensnare turtles, waterfowl and other animals.
How the program works
East Texas Bass Association President Tyler Smith explained that anglers should tightly bundle their line before dropping it into the bin. “You can just immediately dispose of and recycle your line right then when you get off the water,” he said, noting that the bins make the process faster than the previous method of bagging line and searching for a recycling center.
Community partnership behind the bins
Keep Tyler Beautiful coordinator Casey Turner said the idea originated with the Tyler Audubon Society, the adopt‑a‑spot group that took stewardship of Bellwood Lake about a year ago. After an initial cleanup, volunteers noticed discarded fishing line littering the shoreline, prompting the call for a dedicated collection point.
The project is a collaboration between the local Keep Tyler Beautiful chapter, the Tyler Audubon Society and the BoatUS Foundation, which provided the recycling tubes. The foundation highlights that more than 100,000 animals die each year from swallowing or becoming tangled in discarded fishing gear, and that fishing line can persist in waterways for over 600 years.
Why the bins matter for wildlife
Improperly discarded line poses a serious threat to the region’s abundant wildlife. Turtles can become trapped, preventing them from reaching nesting sites, while birds may become entangled while foraging near the water’s edge. By offering a purposeful spot for disposal, the program aims to reduce these incidents and encourage responsible angling practices.
Local response
Anglers who have used the bins so far have praised the convenience. “I think it’s great. You can just immediately dispose of and recycle your line right then when you get off the water,” Smith said. The bins also serve an educational purpose, reminding visitors that even small pieces of gear can have lasting environmental impacts.
Looking ahead
Turner hopes the success of the three sites will inspire additional locations throughout East Texas. “If we have a purposeful spot for it, we’re hoping that encourages people to put their line there and dispose of it properly,” she said. The partnership plans to monitor usage and explore expanding the program to other parks and lakes in the region.
For anglers seeking to protect the natural beauty of Tyler’s waters, the new recycling bins offer a simple, effective way to keep the environment clean and safeguard the wildlife that makes East Texas recreation areas so beloved.
Original reporting: KLTV 7 Tyler (news) — read the source article.
