SNOHOMISH — Two green park benches made of recycled materials were installed in Pilchuck Julia Landing park last week. They were paid for with 1,000 pounds of recycled plastic.
The benches are the result of a recycling program, Bags-to-Benches, launched by the Snohomish Lions Club last November. The Lions and other local groups have been collecting large amounts of recycled plastic to send to a company that, in turn, donates benches made from composite recycled materials.
When The Lions started the program, their goal was to collect enough plastic for just one bench, or 500 pounds.
But when word got out around town, they quickly met and surpassed that goal. Other community organizations began to get involved, including Green Snohomish, Snohomish Kiwanis, high school groups and Girl Scouts Service Unit 223. Enough plastic for seven more benches has been collected in the nine months since the program was created.
“It’s been a partnership of many clubs. It’s just amazing seeing all these different clubs help out each week,” said Lions Club treasurer Renee Deierling. “It’s a lot of work — sorting the plastic and filtering out the junk. I hope people who donate make sure the items they donate can be used.”
A list of the types of plastic that can be donated is listed on the Bags-to-Benches website, and it includes grocery bags, newspaper sleeves and shipping envelopes.
Those interested in donating plastic to the cause can drop it off in Snohomish at Northwest Security and Sound, 1208 10th St., Suite 101, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Lions Club is in the midst of planning where to place the other benches they have on order. The list of potential locations includes Snohomish’s Garden of Hope community garden and the Twin Lakes Landing, a low-income apartment complex in north Marysville.
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen
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