Have a Seat and Thank the Bentleyville Lions Club

Plastic Recycling Program Provides 18 Sustainable Neighborhood Benches

Buddy Marodi posing on a Main Street bench.

If you’re out and about, you can sit and rest on one of the 18 sustainable benches that have popped up in the Bentworth community. While you are seated, pause and think about the local garbage that was used to make each bench.

Each bench is made of 500 pounds of recycled plastic bags and wrapping that have been collected by the Bentleyville Lions Club as part of a recycling program that started in September of 2018. Although the Lions Club spearheaded the project, other organizations involved are the Bentleyville Lioness, Bentworth Leos, the First Presbyterian Church of Bentleyville, and the Knights of Columbus 5826 of Bentleyville. The program serves the boroughs of Bentleyville, Cokeburg, and Ellsworth, along with North Bethlehem and Somerset townships.

The Lions Club works with Trex, a manufacturer of plastic decking, furniture, and other products. The company, headquartered in Winchester, Va., donates one bench (no more than 2 per year for each organization registered in the program) for every 500 pounds of plastic collected.  So far, the community has recycled just shy of 12,000 pounds of plastic and received an average of one bench per month. Each 48-inch bench has a retail value of $389.

Residents and local business can drop off plastic at a garage, owned by the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., located adjacent to the First Presbyterian Church at 812 Main Street, Bentleyville and at the Bentleyville Public Library, 931 Main Street, Bentleyville. Eventually, all of the plastic is weighed and sent off for recycling.

When the project started, the Lions Club, the Lioness Club, and the Leo Club, donated their first three benches to the Bentleyville Public Library. The rest of the benches are scattered about the communities and the Bentworth schools.

One of the Bentleyville Library benches.

Librarian Charlotte Carpenter is impressed with the Trex bench program and the effort the community has put forth.

“When Sara Greenlee (of the Lions Club) first approached us with the program, I was concerned it would take so long to collect 500 pounds of plastic. Then, where would I store it if we got overwhelmed?”

Charlotte said the library created a collection area where people drop off plastic. Judith Lohr, a member of the Lioness Club, makes regular trips to the library to haul the plastic away. She finds it amusing that Judy doesn’t use a truck to get the job done.

“She just packs that car full of plastic bags,” she said.

Sara asked Tim Marodi, a member of the Lions Club and owner of the funeral home, to take over the project. He stores the plastic, keeps track of the amounts collected, and makes sure everyone gets their benches.

“Tim really has it running like a well-oiled machine,” she said, noting that the community has become the true driving force of the program. “The community takes great pride in collecting any plastic that can be used for the program.”

She is proud of the fact that other libraries in county-wide system have donated plastic toward the program. Some of the business who contribute to this project are Agway in Eighty Four, Legrand in Canonsburg, and Washington Medical Equipment.

“The library has received three benches that we have put together and put on display in the library and one in the entrance to the Senior Center,” she said. “The plan is to put them out around the Memorial Garden in the Spring.”

Charlotte is surprised by the quality and sturdiness of the benches.

“You would never guess it is from all the plastic that we collect. It is amazing that a beautiful thing can be made from garbage.”

She is so glad that Sara got the program started.

“She really steamed rolled the program by getting started here at the library,” she said. “Tim has really been our go-to for keeping it running. The library has enjoyed being part of the program and a drop-off point for the plastic. I enjoy showing off the benches and seeing what this community can do when it gets together!"

Prudy Nicholson, who works at the water authority in Bentleyville, was surprised when a new bench appeared on the sidewalk in front of the building at the end of January.

The Bentleyville Water Authority Bench.

“The new bench in front of the water company is a beautiful addition to our area of town,” she said. “Several customers coming into the office have remarked about how nice it is. Dave (the crossing guard) has already claimed it as his bench while waiting for the buses to come. This is a great project. I agree with our customers and I’d love to see more of them throughout our town.”

Tim is pleased that the project has been well received by the community.

He said the collections have surpassed everyone’s expectations and the project isn’t difficult or time-consuming.

“I am very grateful to everyone who has helped to make the project a success,” he said. “It’s a worthwhile community project for the Lions Club. In about 1 ½ years, almost 12,000 pounds of plastic have been kept out of the landfills and put to good use.”

Two of the Bentworth High School benches.

Plastic can be dropped off at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home garage (the one adjacent to the First Presbyterian Church in Bentleyville). Please make sure to place your clean recyclable bags inside the garage during the following times:

v  9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

v  9 a. m. to noon on Saturdays

Please do not leave the plastic outside.

The types of plastic that can be used are: grocery bags, bread bags, case over wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, Ziploc & other re-sealable bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, salt bags, and cereal bags. All materials must be clean, dry and free of food residue.