Over 6 tons of plastic film collected since February of 2023
The Springfield Rotary Club has once again shown its dedication to community service and environmental stewardship by donating a Trex recycled bench to Springfield Hospital. The donation follows the successful collection of 1,000 pounds of thin-film plastics by residents as part of the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge.
This marks the fourteenth bench awarded to Springfield through the Trex Recycling Program. The latest collection effort drew contributions from several local sources: 49% from the Springfield Town Library, 16% from the Springfield Food Co-op, 15% each from Magee Office Products and the Springfield Food Co-op, 12% from Bibens Ace Hardware, and the remainder from Springfield Hospital, Waterbury’s Factotum Design, and Springfield GMC. Since February 2023, the Springfield Rotary has collected more than 12,148 pounds—over six tons—of plastic film, roughly the weight of three hippopotamuses.
The Trex Challenge promotes the recycling of everyday materials such as grocery and produce bags, bubble wrap, and cereal bags. Once a group collects 1,000 pounds, Trex awards a 48-inch Yacht Club Bench made from recycled materials like milk jugs and water bottles. These plastics are upcycled into Trex decking, helping to support a circular economy.
Thin plastic film is one of the most difficult materials to recycle, often clogging standard sorting equipment. The Trex Challenge offers a creative, community-based solution to this growing environmental issue.
This newest bench joins others already placed throughout the community—including The Common, Park Street School, North Springfield Bog Trailhead, Main Street, the Springfield Town Library, Elm Street School, the Springfield Community Players Theater, the pollinator habitat hillside at Springfield Hospital, and Springfield Parks & Recreation facilities.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club and the Springfield Town Library manage the ongoing collection, weighing, and delivery of plastics to Shaw’s Supermarket, the nearest Trex drop-off site. The collection bin remains available at the Town Library.
The bench is dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Springfield Rotary Club and to Lori Muse-Gurney, a beloved member who passed away on March 12, 2025. Lori served the Rotary for 22 years, chaired committees for three years, and was a proud Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient.
Looking ahead, the Rotary Club has already begun collecting materials for its next Trex bench, which will be donated to Union Elementary School.
Founded in 1927, the Rotary Club of Springfield is a vibrant organization of more than 30 members dedicated to service—both locally and globally. Learn more at springfieldvtrotary.org.
