Community recycling effort has diverted more than seven and one half tons of plastic film from the waste stream.
The Springfield Rotary Club has donated its 17th Trex recycled-plastic bench to Robert L. Johnson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 771, marking another milestone in a community recycling effort that has diverted more than seven tons of plastic film from the waste stream since February 2023.
The bench was earned through the Rotary Club’s participation in the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge, which encourages communities to collect hard-to-recycle plastic film and transform it into useful products instead of sending it to landfills.
When Springfield Rotary began participating in the challenge, Trex provided a recycled-plastic bench for every 1,000 pounds of plastic film collected. Although Trex discontinued that incentive in January 2026, the Rotary Club plans to continue the program. With support from a Rotary District 7870 grant, the club is continuing to collect plastic film in 1,000-pound increments and donate benches to five more community organizations.
The latest collection included contributions from across the community. The Springfield Town Library contributed 61 percent of the material, followed by Bibens Ace Hardware with 17 percent and the Springfield Food Co-op with 15 percent. Additional contributions came from Magee Office Solutions, Springfield Hospital and Factorum Designs of Waterbury.
Since the project began, Springfield Rotary has collected 15,157 pounds of plastic film—more than 7½ tons, or approximately the weight of an adult male elephant.
The Trex Challenge accepts a variety of plastic-film materials that are difficult to process through conventional recycling systems, including grocery and produce bags, bubble wrap, bread bags and cereal liners. Because plastic film can jam machinery at traditional recycling facilities, specialized collection programs are especially important.
Collected material is transported to Shaw’s Supermarket in Springfield, the Rotary Club’s local drop-off location and an important link in the recycling process. Rotary members deliver the plastic film to Shaw’s, where it begins the next stage of its journey to Trex for processing and repurposing. The club thanks the Springfield Shaw’s team for supporting the program and helping make the community’s recycling efforts possible.
The new bench joins other 16 Rotary-donated benches throughout Springfield, including locations at The Common, Park Street School, the North Springfield Bog Trailhead, Main Street, the Springfield Town Library, Elm Street School, Springfield Community Players Theater, Springfield Hospital, Springfield Parks & Recreation facilities, the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park and Union Street School.
Rotary members and Springfield Town Library staff oversee the local collection effort by sorting, weighing and transporting the plastic film to Shaw’s. A collection bin remains available at the Springfield Town Library for community members who would like to participate. Several area businesses also participate in the collection.
The new bench is dedicated in honor of the 95th anniversary of the Springfield Rotary Club, as well as the Robert L. Johnson VFW Post 771.
The club has already begun collecting material toward its next 1,000-pound goal. The next bench will be donated to Springfield’s Elm Hill School.
Founded in 1927, the Rotary Club of Springfield has approximately 30 members dedicated to service in the local community and around the world. For more information, visit springfieldvtrotary.org.
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PHOTO: The 17th bench donated by the Springfield Vermont Rotary Club is placed at the Robert L. Johnson, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 771. On the bench are Post the Commander, Ron Farrar, and Past Post and District Commander, Cindy Brown. In back is Post member and bartender, Jeff Ovitt.
