When the Wachusett Area Rotary Club decided to bring awareness to the issue of single use plastic bags, they didn't realize it would be an ongoing project. Spearheaded by Rotarian Richard Traina and the club's Membership Committee, the group decided to do something about the single use plastic bags that are littering the roadsides and oceans throughout our country and beyond. Collecting the bags was not only a great way to tie into Rotary's seventh area of service, but also a way to beautify the world and to make a difference in the local community.
For six months throughout 2022, volunteers consisting of Rotarians, community members, and Interact students gathered in the parking lot of The Manor Restaurant in West Boylston to collect plastic bags. Partnering with a local company, Trex, which makes decking from recycled plastic, they brought the bags to one of their drop off locations. The Trex program donates a composite plastic bench to groups that collect and drop off at least 500 pounds of plastic bags, which is equal to approximately 38,000 plastic bags. While it seemed like a lofty goal, the Rotarians knew that every bag they were able to recycle would be worth the effort because they couldn't be put into regular home recycling and would end up in landfills and oceans if something wasn't done.The Wachusett community came together to support the cause, and at the end of six months over 1,600 lbs. of plastic bags were collected - more than three times their goal! Not only were they able to recycle all of those bags, but they drew such awareness to the project that several of the area senior centers are continuing to work with the Wachusett Area Rotary Club in collecting bags to be recycled. With their help, The Sterling Senior Center was able to collect enough to earn themselves a bench, as well!
If your club would like to learn more about how to get involved, email Richard Traina at Traina@comcast.net. Your club, too, can make this world a beautiful place!