The Magdalene Centre provides emergency assistance in the form of food, clothing, blankets and pharmaceuticals to about 13,000 people each year.
Valerie Bonython reported that Robyn had been fitted with a pacemaker.
Last year, I read about a project conducted by the Capital City Sunrise Rotary Club in New Hampshire, USA. The club collected plastic film and received a recycled bench. Since I enjoy learning about successful club projects and figuring out ways to replicate them, I contacted the club’s president, who readily agreed to give a presentation to our club. That was the beginning of our own community recycling initiative.Beginning in February of 2023, we entered the NexTrex Recycling Challenge on behalf of our community. Through its recycling program, Trex, a manufacturer of wood-alternative decking products, encourages the public to recycle grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, cereal bags, ice bags, case overwrap, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, Ziploc and other re-sealable bags, and wrap for other objects. For every 1,000 pounds of plastic film a sponsoring organization collects, Trex donates a four-foot long composite bench through its furniture line. The benches are made out of milk jugs and water bottles, while the collected plastic waste is used in other Trex decking products.
We placed a bin in our town library, and also collected plastics from a local manufacturer, hospital, and food co-op. Residents gladly pitched in, diverting more than 6,143 pounds of plastic film from the waste stream. Weekly posts on social media keep the community apprised of the progress. To date, eight benches have been installed around the Springfield community, with a ninth underway. Each bench has a plaque that acknowledges our club and is dedicated to our 95th anniversary. One of the most significant benefits of the challenge has been increased awareness. I have become more mindful of the pervasive presence of plastics in everyday life. This has sparked me to have conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, igniting a ripple effect throughout our community that has increased awareness of plastic waste.
This has truly been a rewarding project, as we reduce plastic waste, promote financial savings, empower personal responsibility, and foster community engagement. We are helping people embrace sustainable practices in our daily lives. As we strive towards a cleaner, healthier planet, each of us has the power to make a difference – one plastic-free choice at a time.
