Zero to Landfill for End-of-Life Boats

Zero to Landfill

For decades, the final destination for most scrapped boats, particularly those made of fibreglass (GRP), was the landfill. This is a devastating prospect for the environment, as GRP is designed to last indefinitely, slowly releasing microplastics into the earth and water. At Boatbreakers, we are determined to rewrite this narrative, making a dedicated effort to achieve a zero to landfill policy for every vessel we handle.

Our approach is built on a simple hierarchy: Reuse, Recycle, and Recover.

Circular Economy

The first, and most crucial step, is stripping the boat. Every salvageable component—from engines and electronics to rigging, spars, and even winches—is carefully removed. These items are given a second life through our sister company, Boat Scrapyard, promoting a vital circular economy and saving the materials from being wasted.

Once the hull is depolluted and all reusable items are gone, we tackle the remaining challenge: the GRP structure. While a silver-bullet recycling solution for GRP remains commercially difficult in the UK. We actively work with partners on disposal methods that divert waste away from landfill.

Waste to Energy

The goal of zero to landfill drives our commitment to responsible disposal. By continually exploring options like using processed GRP in waste-to-energy facilities. We ensure that as little as possible of your end-of-life vessel ever sees a hole in the ground. When you choose Boatbreakers, you’re choosing a team that makes environmental responsibility the bedrock of boat disposal.