The Rotary Club of Springfield has donated its 18th Trex recycled-plastic bench to Elm Hill School, marking another milestone in a community recycling initiative that has diverted more than eight tons of plastic film from the waste stream since February 2023.
The bench is the second donated by the Rotary Club to Elm Hill School. It was earned through the club’s participation in the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge, which encourages communities to collect hard-to-recycle plastic film and convert it into useful products rather than sending it to landfills.
When Springfield Rotary joined 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 collecting plastic film in 1,000-pound increments and plans to donate benches to at least two community organizations.
The latest collection included contributions from throughout the community. The Springfield Town Library provided 42 percent of the material, followed by the Springfield Food Co-op with 18 percent, Magee Office Solutions with 17 percent and Biben Ace Hardware with 16 percent. Springfield Hospital and Factorum Designs of Waterbury also contributed.
Since the project began, Springfield Rotary has collected 16,189 pounds of plastic film—more than eight tons, or approximately the weight of 12 dairy cows.
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 equipment at traditional recycling facilities, specialized collection programs play an important role in keeping these materials out of the waste stream.
Collected plastic film 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 material 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 17 other Rotary-donated benches throughout Springfield. They are located at The Common, Park Street School, the North Springfield Bog Trailhead, Main Street, the Springfield Town Library, Elm Hill School, Springfield Community Players Theater, Springfield Hospital, Springfield Parks & Recreation facilities, the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park, Springfield VFW and Union Street School.
Rotary members and Springfield Town Library staff oversee the local collection effort by sorting, weighing and transporting 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 take part in the program.
The new bench is dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Springfield Rotary Club and to Elm Hill School.
The club has already begun collecting material toward its next 1,000-pound goal. The recipient of the next bench has not yet been determined.
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 18th bench donated by the Springfield Vermont Rotary Club is placed at Springfield’s Elm Hill School. On the bench are (l-r) Lyra Watkins, Griffin Steele, Owen Bussino, and Brooks Cluckey.
