SC Vermont News

Your library is joining forces with the Springfield Vermont Rotary Club to help our environment and get a new bench in town. Look for the container at the library. 

"This project empowers residents to elevate their knowledge of the volume of plastic the world generates and helps solve the plastic waste issue.”

Trex, a company that makes outdoor items from recycled materials, first rolled out its recycling challenge to schools and communities in 2006.

The initiative gives communities a six-month period to collect 500 pounds (or more) of plastic bags and film — also known as polyethylene films or plastic that can be stretched — and if that goal is met, the community receives an earth-friendly Trex bench, according to the company.

Springfield Rotarians have until the end of June to secure their free bench made from recycled materials.

Each year, Americans buy enough plastic film to shrink-wrap Texas, according to National Geographic.

Thin plastic film, including plastic bags, newspaper sleeves, dry-cleaning bags, and produce bags, cannot be recycled at home in curbside bins because they clog recycling machines and will release toxic chemicals if they end up in landfills or incinerators, according to the World Health Organization.

Besides being an initiative that could get them a new, shiny bench, Rotary’s plastic waste project is also making residents aware of the plastic they use every day and how it can be recycled by collaborating with Springfield Town Library.

Additionally, the club reached out to McGee Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Springfield & Springfield Auto Mart who agreed to donate the leftover plastic seat coverings that are used when shipping their new cars, instead of throwing it away. Their business wins by providing an environmentally responsible way to dispose of plastic waste. These materials are not normally accepted in curbside programs because they can get caught in the machines that sort other valuable recyclables like paper, cans, and bottles. And bags are generally too dirty after their trip in the back of the recycling truck to be recycled, even if they are collected at the recycling facility NOTE: When a business removes plastic scrap from its waste stream, it will immediately save money and reduce the cost of hauling trash to the disposal site.  Trex wins by collecting a key ingredient to make its products. And, ultimately, we all win by keeping tons of single-use and packaging plastic from ending up in landfills.

Rotary Club members will bring the plastic to Shaw's Supermarket, one of Trex’s partner companies. From there, the plastic is shipped to Trex in Virginia for recycling.

Original source can be found here.