Thin film plastic and Skagit County

Here’s the story of the recycled bench.

A volunteer group from Leadership Skagit set to partner with Friends of Skagit Beaches in 2021 to address issues with thin film plastics recycling.

Thin film plastics, such as plastic bags, are one of the most common items entangling wildlife and polluting the world. Every year, millions of tons of thin film plastic gets into the ocean.

The problem locally is Skagit County Solid Waste Management does not accept thin film plastics, and it is not immediately clear where one can recycle them. The Leadership Skagit volunteer group, named Wild Blue Yonder, set out to complete an awareness project illustrating clearly how these plastics can be recycled in Skagit County.

In early 2022, Wild Blue Yonder in partnership with Friends of Skagit Beaches collected 600 pounds of thin film plastics. To turn that into a bench, the group worked with Trex, a company that makes eco-friendly outdoor products. Wild Blue Yonder shipped its plastic to Trex, which then shipped the bench you saw today. If you are interested in getting involved with this recycling program, click here.

Despite the fact you can’t put thin film plastic in your recycling bin, ample recycling drop-off locations exist throughout Skagit County. Visit this recycling drop-off directory and enter your ZIP code to find the nearest thin film plastic recycling locations. Ensure the bags are clean and dry before dropping them off. Of course, limiting use of thin film plastics is the best method for reducing waste. It is recommended to bring reusable bags when shopping for groceries and to be conscious of what you purchase and how it is packaged.

FIND A PLASTIC BAG DROP-OFF NEAR YOU

About Leadership Skagit
Leadership Skagit is an experiential and interactive leadership development program that has graduated hundreds of emerging community leaders since 2004. The program is run by the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County in partnership with Skagit Valley College.