Photo provided Indian Creek High School natural resources students Hunter Rusnak, pictured at left, and Evan McGrew are spearheading this year’s Bags to Benches program through the FFA organization. The goal is to collect 250 pounds of plastic bags for recycling every three months and the school is entered into a raffle to receive a bench made from the repurposed materials. Receptacles are located at each district school and community members may donate to support the cause and help the environment.

WINTERSVILLE – Students in the natural resources pathway at Indian Creek High School are continuing their quest to help the environment through the Bags to Benches program.

Now in its second year, the school’s FFA program that is affiliated with the pathway has partnered with the Wintersville Kroger and NexTrex to repurpose plastic household bags and wraps into Earth-friendly items, including benches and composite decking and railing. Trex Company, one of the largest recyclers of polyethylene (PE) plastic, is known for creating composite decking and railings with up to 95 percent recycled and reclaimed materials and established NexTrex as a grassroots movement to allay growing concerns related to plastic bag and film recycling. Since its formation, a national drop-off directory was launched with 10,000 stores in all 50 states serving as drop-off locations as a means to divert plastic waste from landfills and waterways.

The ICHS students managed to collect 1,000 pounds of grocery store bags during its initial effort and a plastic bench was placed at Kettlewell Stadium in honor of Bradyn White, a fellow student and football player who passed away last spring. Organizers said the collection format has changed this time and the school’s name is entered into a raffle to receive the new seating.

Seniors Evan McGrew and Hunter Rusnak are helping to coordinate efforts and said donations can be made at any district school building.

“Every three months we have to collect 250 pounds of bags and our name is entered into the raffle,” McGrew explained. “We have raised 750-800 pounds since the beginning of the year and people can bring the bags to Indian Creek Middle School or Hills Elementary in Mingo Junction or Cross Creek Elementary or the high school [in Wintersville].”

White receptacles are located in the vestibules and bags are collected regularly. They are taken to the Wintersville Kroger store, where they are transported to a warehouse to be recycled. In addition to grocery bags, NexTrex has sought produce bags, ice bags, Ziploc and other recloseable bags, cereal box liners, case overwrap, break bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, and plastic e-commerce mailers.

McGrew said they have spread the word about the program through social media and people have generously donated bags to the schools. The end result is that it not only finds new use for the plastic, but it also helps the environment.

“It helps against plastic pollution and keeps our environment clean,” he added.

Crystal Fluharty, natural resources pathway instructor and FFA adviser, said just a little bit of help can go a very long way.

“This is our FFA community outreach project,” she commented. “The point is to collect plastic to help with plastic pollution. About 40 million tons of plastic find their way into the ocean every year and get carried through our watersheds. It’s not just the ocean we’re worried about; it’s our creeks and streams.”

She added that farmers also face problems when their livestock ingests discarded plastics, and that may become an issue in rural areas within the community. However, the Bags to Benches program hopes to alleviate that and support the environment. By recycling and creating new seating, it also may beautify the community.

Fluharty said another venture is underway and two of her sophomores are planning to create pollinator gardens to sustain bees and butterflies as part of a Boy Scouts project. The first garden is eyed at the ICHS campus and a bench would be erected at the site with a plaque to honor local veterans.