Mason County 4-H students “flip their lids” for benches

Mason County teens sort through bags of bottle caps and lids to make sure they are free of trash and unwanted items before they can be taken to the recycling center. Photos submitted.

When Mason County CEA 4-H Youth Development leader, Karen Douglas, learned that benches could be made from recycled bottle caps she decided such a project would be something her 4-H teens would enjoy.

“I learned of this program from Clark County. Their teens did the program last year.

There is a company in Evansville, Ind. that makes plastic benches and picnic tables. They have a program called ABC partnership. It was started because of a young person who realized their local landfill didn’t accept the plastic caps or lids. Youth and or community groups collect the caps, sort them and then can exchange them for benches or picnic tables. There is a fee to it besides the caps but it is minimal compared to the full actual cost of the products,” Douglas explained. “I brought up the idea to our 4-H teens and adult council to give it a try so we set a goal to collect enough caps for one or two benches,” she said.

The idea was a hit and with the help of Douglas and 4-H assistant, Tara McCarty, the teens set their plan in motion.

“We started to collect the lids and caps last October. It takes approximately 400 pounds per bunch and that equals about ten 55 gallon trash bags full. We sponsored a contest at Straub School and Mason County Intermediate school and even some high school teachers and classes collected them in their rooms,” Douglas said.

The project soon became a way to not only help 4-H students learn how to reduce their carbon footprints but also a way to educate other students learn how they can help reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills.

“The teachers at Straub included education about the program, recycling and some incorporated it into their curriculum. They had the students count or weigh the caps. The winning classrooms at both schools got a pizza party,” Douglas said.

Local clubs and organizations also took an interest in the project and joined the teens to help collect bottle caps.

“The Mason County Homemakers were on board and participated an held a contest between clubs. Some churches got involved and various people just heard about it and dropped caps off at our office,” Douglas added.

After the lids and caps were collected each bag had to be sorted to ensure only acceptable items were sent to the recycling center.

“Our 4-H teens sorted through the hundreds of plastic bags of caps to make sure that they were all acceptable types and that there was no other trash or items in the bags. They bagged them in 55 gallon trash bags and helped load them on the trailers. Meadows Towing and Recovery in Aberdeen picked up a Pepsi truck wreck with a load of caps and donated 1,200 pounds to us for the project so we ended up with enough caps to get five benches,” Douglas said.

Douglas said she worked with city officials to place the benches in different areas of the county.

“I have worked with Matt Wallingford with the city and Judge Pfeffer of the county to place the benches downtown and at the recreation park at Washington. Signs are being made to put on them and they will then be placed when the weather cooperates and the city employees have time in their schedule. So look for them and have a seat on us,” Douglas said.

When you need to take a break this spring or summer while visiting downtown Maysville or the park at Washington, the 4-H Club hopes you will remember how they “flipped their lids,” for a few comfortable benches.