Local women’s club beautifies community with 500 pounds of plastic bags

The GFWC Hickman Mills Club is participating in a recycling program in conjunction with Trex which produces benches out of “stretchable” plastic bags (not stiff plastic).  The GFWC Lexington, MO Club has participated in the recycling program for a little over three years and was able to procure five benches placed throughout their town. Their GFWC president-elect, DeAnna Fritsche, was instrumental in helping the Hickman Mills Club start a program here.

Hickman Mills GFWC clubmember Kathy LaFrensen worked with Fritsche on the new program and was able to place their first bench at the Hickman Mills Community Christian Church, 5809 E Red Bridge Rd. 

Organizations interested in saving grocery bags for this type of program instead of recycling them at grocery store bins should contact TrexProCommunity – Recycling to set up an account.  Trex will even send recycle bins that can be placed at local businesses. It’s a great way of getting beautiful new benches for your community garden or church gardens. In 2022, Trex, which produces wood-alternative decking and railing, helped more than 3,300 community groups and schools recycle nearly 2 million pounds of plastic film.

The program has changed a bit. This year 1000 pounds of plastic must be collected but organizations have a year to collect them instead of 6 months.  The benches are beautiful, sturdy, and come in three choices of colors.