SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – The Springfield Rotary Club continues its commitment to community service and environmental sustainability with the donation of a Trex recycled bench to Union Street School. The bench was earned after residents successfully collected 1,000 pounds of thin-film plastics through the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge.
This latest achievement marks the 15th bench awarded to Springfield through the Trex Recycling Program. Contributions to the most recent collection came from across the community: 50% from the Springfield Town Library, 17% from the Springfield Food Co-op, 11% from Bibens Ace Hardware, 10% from Magee Office Products, and additional support from Springfield Hospital, Casey CDJR of Springfield, and Springfield GMC.
Since launching the initiative in February 2023, the Springfield Rotary Club has collected more than 13,151 pounds – over 6.5 tons – of plastic film. That’s roughly equivalent to the weight of a female African bush elephant.
The Trex Challenge encourages the recycling of hard-to-process materials such as grocery and produce bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, and cereal liners. Once a participating organization reaches 1,000 pounds, Trex awards a 48-inch Yacht Club bench made from recycled plastic materials, including milk jugs and water bottles. These materials are repurposed into Trex composite decking products, helping to advance a circular economy.
Thin-film plastic is particularly difficult to recycle because it can jam standard sorting equipment at recycling facilities. The Trex Challenge offers a practical, community-driven solution to reduce this type of waste.
The new bench joins others placed throughout Springfield, including locations at The Common, Park Street School, North Springfield Bog Trailhead, Main Street, the Springfield Town Library, Elm Street School, the Springfield Community Players Theater, Springfield Hospital, and Springfield Parks and Recreation Department facilities.
Rotary Club members and volunteers from the Springfield Town Library oversee the collection process, including sorting, weighing, and transporting the materials to Shaw’s Supermarket, the nearest Trex drop-off site. A collection bin remains available at the library for community members wishing to participate.
This bench is dedicated in honor of the 95th anniversary of the Springfield Rotary Club and Union Street School.
The Rotary Club has already begun collecting materials toward its next Trex bench, which will be donated to the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park.
Founded in 1927, the Rotary Club of Springfield is an active organization of 30 members committed to service locally and around the world. For more information, visit www.springfieldvtrotary.org.