Since the beginning of October, Fallston’s Green School club has been working on saving up for one thousand pounds of plastic that will be used in exchange for a bench on the campus. Mr. McLeod, club advisor, “heard about this project in [his] ‘science world’” a few years ago and decided to try it out. At the time, the club had roughly 200 Ibs of plastic; however, when “COVID hit, everything got put on hold.”
This year’s club members are extra determined to reach the goal and meet every Tuesday to weigh and record the plastic. They are also contacting churches, businesses, and any large companies that may have surplus of plastics that could help obtain the goal. Currently, the plastic is being stored in the science shed near the tennis courts, yet hopefully by March, we can reach 1000 Ibs and receive our well-deserved bench.
The club is specifically looking for soft film polyethylene (LDPE) plastics which include saran wrap, grocery bags, bubble wrap, food wrappers, pellet stove bags, etc. If you have any of these plastics, consider contributing to the goal by bringing them in. So far, about 200 Ibs have been recorded and displayed on a goal tracker made by Kasey Conlon, plastic leader, outside of Mr. McLeod’s classroom.
The bench will be sent by Trex, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood alternatives who specializes in making plastic decking. Once the 1,000 Ibs have been recorded, the plastic will be delivered at a drop-off retail location for recycling and picked up by Trex. Schools and communities have a 12-month time frame to complete this in order to receive the bench. The bench will be located in the AP Environmental Science/ Green School Maryland Native Flower Garden, located right outside the gymnasium.
Participating in this challenge will not only benefit our school, but also the environment. It will reduce the amount of waste our schools emit and gives the members a chance to make a difference in the world. According to Conlon, collecting the plastic is beneficial to our school environment by “stopping it from ending up in our ecosystem and instead putting it towards getting a bench for our school.” Each week, the club gets closer and closer to the goal of making their own little difference in the world. “We just need EVERYONE to pitch in. It’s so easy,” says Mr. McLeod.
