CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Local non-profits are bagging benches as part of a plastic drive begun by Carmichael Kiwanis Club.

Gathering more than 500 pounds of plastic over the last six months, project supporters stockpiled enough unwanted packaging to be repurposed as a hefty park bench for the Koobs Nature Area. The harvest is traded to Trex, a manufacturer of plastic-based building materials. For each 500 pounds collected by a non-profit in a six-month period, the company donates a composite bench.   

“Our club collected more plastic in six months than Trex specified,” explains project organizer Sharon Ruffner. “So we invited other non-profits to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Two Arcade groups – Women in Faith (St Mark’s United Methodist Church) and Sierra Vista Community Church – have jumped on the bag bandwagon and will soon install their own campus benches. “This is the most satisfying project I’ve been involved with,” reports Ruffner. “It doesn’t cost anything and everybody’s so enthused by it.”

“We decided to put our first bench in the Koobs Nature Area,” she says.  “Maintaining the preserve is our club’s signature project. Seating allows visitors to pause and reflect as they enjoy nature.

“Girl Scout Troop 3191 helped by collecting plastic during our open days. They were thrilled to sit on the new bench and see what their efforts helped produce.  Our second bench will go to Twin Lakes Elementary School in Orangevale.”

Stockpiling the first 100 pounds of plastic took the Kiwanians a mere six weeks. “We had no trouble meeting the 500-pound requirement in six months,” says Ruffner. “It just shows how much single-use plastic is being produced.”

The indefatigable volunteer coordinates the drive from her home. “In the beginning, I felt plastic was swallowing me alive,” she says. “Now, thanks to 30 volunteers, we sort, weigh and quickly deliver the accumulation to several local retailers. From there, it’s shipped to the Trex headquarters in Virginia.”

Any household can support the drive. Plastic must be clean, dry and of stretchable composition. Bubble wrap, cling wrap and plastic mailers are welcome (paper labels must be removed).

Unacceptable items include: frozen food and candy packaging; plastic gloves; beverage rings; bottles and rigid containers.

Bench rewards aside, Ruffner applauds the project’s eco-benefit. “Millions of pounds of plastics are in our landfills and floating on our oceans,” she notes. “It’s exciting to find meaningful use for so many products that have been inflicted on our environment.”

Groups or individuals with plastic to contribute may contact Ruffner at [email protected]