Turning Plastic Waste Into Community Assets
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos is proud to participate in the A Bench For Caps (ABC) Promise Program, an initiative that transforms discarded plastic caps and lids into durable outdoor furniture while raising awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
Through this program, plastic caps that would otherwise be sent to landfills are collected, sorted, and recycled into products such as benches, picnic tables, and planters that serve communities for years to come.
How the Program Works
- Community members save plastic caps and lids and drop them off at community collection bins.
- When enough caps are collected, volunteers sort and prepare the material for shipment.
- Rotary Club transports to Green Tree Plastics in Indiana for recycling into furniture.
- Furniture is placed in parks, schools, and other community spaces.
The process not only diverts plastic waste from landfills but also demonstrates how everyday items can be repurposed into valuable community resources.
Why Plastic Caps?
Plastic caps are small, lightweight, and frequently discarded. While individual caps may seem insignificant, thousands of them quickly add up to hundreds of pounds of recyclable material.
By collecting caps separately, communities can:
- Reduce landfill waste
- Promote recycling education
- Engage students, families, businesses, and civic organizations
- Create tangible community improvements from recycled materials
How You Can Help
Contact info@rotarylosalamos.org if you can help us.
Start a Collection Bin
We are seeking local businesses, schools, churches, nonprofits, and community organizations willing to host plastic cap collection bins. Collection sites make it easy for residents to participate and help us gather enough material to support the program. Here’s a list of some kinds of acceptable and unacceptable caps and lids.
Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to sort, bag, and prepare caps for shipment. Sorting events are simple, family-friendly opportunities to make a direct environmental impact.
Donate Storage Space
As collections grow, we need space where caps can be stored until enough material has been accumulated for transport. Donations of temporary storage space are greatly appreciated.
Donate Financially
You can also donate to us financially to help offset storage and transport costs.
Spread the Word
One of the primary goals of the ABC Promise Program is education. Sharing information about plastic waste and recycling helps expand the program’s impact throughout our community.
Current Progress
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos has already collected hundreds of pounds of plastic caps through community donations and collection efforts. As participation grows, we hope to divert thousands of pounds of plastic from the waste stream and convert it into useful outdoor amenities for our community.
Get Involved
Whether you can collect caps, volunteer at sorting events, host a collection bin, or provide storage space, your support helps make this project possible.
Together, we can turn everyday plastic waste into something lasting, useful, and beneficial for our community.
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