Pound Middle collects 'Bags for a Bench'

Students and staff at Pound Middle School have taken on the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge, and their impact so far is outstanding! This challenge is a national program operated by Trex, a company best known for its eco-friendly composite decking material. The plastic film is recycled and used in the production of their building materials.

“When you donate your unwanted plastic materials to Trex, not only are you helping to keep thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills, you’re also helping us to continue to create beautiful and environmentally responsible outdoor products.”

The recycling challenge runs November 15 – April 15 each year and schools compete within their category to see who can recycle the most plastic film. The winner will receive a composite bench made from recycled material.

So far, Pound has already collected its first 500 pounds of plastic film, which will be recycled at a local Hy-Vee store. At Pound, bags are collected every Wednesday, and a collection box has been placed in the cafeteria to collect the breakfast “Grab and Go” bags and any lunch  baggies that can be recycled. The school Green Team helps with collection of the bags from around the building and weighs them for reporting.

Some of the materials that can be recycled through this program include grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, produce bags, newspaper sleeves, and Ziploc bags. These are materials that are typically not accepted in regular curbside recycling bins. In fact, plastic film can be a big issue when it gets caught in the sorting equipment at recycling facilities. This program keeps plastic film out of curbside bins and out of the landfill.

Find out more about the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge and see which Local Retailers collect plastic film for recycling.