The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur announced the launch of their “Recycle Beyond the Bag” program to turn plastics into community benches.
A new program aimed at keeping soft plastics out of landfills, will turn them into something useful for the community — durable composite benches.
The initiative, called “Recycle Beyond the Bag”, collects a variety of soft plastics that can’t usually be placed in curbside recycling bins. Accepted items include plastic shopping bags, bread bags, produce bags, ice bags from the pantry, Ziploc and other re-closable storage bags, cereal box liners, case overwrap from products like bottled water and paper towels, plastic e-commerce mailers, bubble wrap, dry-cleaning bags, and newspaper sleeves.
Plastics must be clean, dry, and free of food or organic residue before dropoff.
“These types of plastic are often overlooked in recycling programs, but through our partnership with Trex, we can give them a second life,” said Tina Cunningham, a member of the Rotary Club of Buckhanon-Upshur. “Every bag we collect brings us closer to installing benches in local parks and community spaces.”
Collection bins are available at Coldwell Banker Armstrong Davis Realty, located at 56 South Kanawha Street and Kelley Tierney State Farm Insurance, located at 115 East Main Street in Buckhannon, where donations can be dropped off anytime. Rotary Club members will also accept plastics during their regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Buckhannon. For residents who cannot make it to a drop-off location, pickup arrangements can be made by calling Cunningham at 304-406-2131.
The project has been made possible through the support of local businesses and the dedication of Rotary members. In addition to providing seating for public spaces, the program encourages residents to recycle, support local initiatives, and get involved with Rotary’s mission of community service.
“Our current goal is to collect enough plastic for benches,” Cunningham said. “But we plan to grow this program and use it to support even more sustainable projects for Buckhannon and the surrounding area.”
Rotary is a global service organization that brings together leaders from all walks of life to exchange ideas, form friendships, and take action to create lasting change in communities around the world. The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur is dedicated to its mission of “Service Above Self”, addressing many needs in our community. For more information about the club, visit them on Facebook at RotaryBU or email them at Info@BURotary.org.
