The Munster Community Garden has added a new feature to its growing space: a bench crafted from 1,000 pounds of recycled plastic bags and film. This sustainable addition, provided by Munster Sustainable and Green through Trex’s plastic recycling program, is a testament to the community’s commitment to sustainability and teamwork.
Plastic bags and film for the project were collected at Green Witch Cafe, Top Tier Nutrition, and the Munster Environmental Club as well members individual collections. Munster Sustainable and Green, a local group dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices and environmental stewardship in the community, spearheaded the plastic bag and film recycling campaign, carefully coordinating the collection, sorting, and weighing of the materials. Their members worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program, transforming waste into a tangible contribution to the community.
“The process turned out to be relatively easy,” said Jennifer Fane, the project coordinator for Munster Sustainable and Green. “We had several helpers in the community. The collection boxes at our partner locations made it simple to gather the plastic. We then sorted and weighed the bags as the project went on then brought them to Jewel and Meijer after logging each batch. It took just four months to reach the 1,000-pound goal.”
The group dedicated dozens of hours to pick up and process the materials over that four month period “It was a little tedious to separate non-recyclable portions like labels and other plastics. But as we went along, residents got better at prepping the materials,” Fane said. “This kind of community education made a big difference.”
After reaching the recycling milestone, Munster Sustainable and Green had the important task of choosing where to place the bench. They ultimately selected the Munster Community Garden, recognizing it as a hub for environmental and community activity. “The community garden brings everybody out,” Fane explained. “Kids can sit on it while parents work in the garden. It’s just a great place to sit, visit, and watch nature come together.”
The garden’s co-leader, MaryAnn Christman, reflected on the significance of the project. “The community garden is trying to promote sustainability with gardening and composting. This bench means the community saved plastics from the landfill to make a beautiful bench for everyone to enjoy while spending time at the garden.”
As the Munster Community Garden looks ahead to its second year, MaryAnn shared her vision for growth: “We’re hoping for more community involvement, more produce, more composting, and more fun for the entire family. We’ll need donations of cardboard, cattle panels, plants, seeds, straw, and a water system to expand our efforts.”
Both Munster Sustainable and Green and the Munster Community Garden hope the bench will inspire even greater participation in sustainability efforts. “This bench shows what can come out of our garbage,” she said. “In just four months, plastic shopping bags, Amazon envelopes, and plastic wrap were transformed into something sturdy and long-lasting. It would be great to see more of these benches placed around town.”
Fortunately the project is not stopping with just one bench. The Munster Junior Women’s Club is continuing the momentum by collecting for a second recycled plastic bench, and the Green Witch Cafe has agreed to keep its collection box open for future initiatives.
With the continued dedication of Munster Sustainable and Green, the Munster Community Garden, and other local groups, the town is setting an inspiring example of how collaboration and sustainability can create lasting benefits for everyone.
