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Smith Library Receives North Branford's Second Recycled Plastic Film Bonus Bench

The new bench beside Northford's Smith Library is more than eco-friendly – it's a tribute to residents who have embraced the town's plastic film recycling program.

Launched over a year ago by North Branford Solid/Hazardous Waste and Recycling Committee, the program continues to see a tremendous response from citizens dropping off accepted materials at collections points around town.

In the past 14 months, just under 4,000 pounds of used plastic bags and wrappings have been recaptured and recycled in North Branford, according to committee member Hank Petroskey.

As an added bonus, for every 500 pounds recycled, the town earns an eco-friendly Trex® bench made from 95 percent recycled wood and plastic film. The very first bonus bench arrived in September 2017. To thank the young adults of the North Branford School to Work program who regularly assist with collections around town, the bench was installed outside the School to Work office unit on the rear campus of Totoket Valley Elementary School.

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the committee presented a second bench earned by the town, which was given to the Edward Smith Library in Northford.

The gift was made in recognition of the library being the town's top collection point of recycled plastic film, said Lauren Davis, director of North Branford Libraries.

Library staff and members of the Library Board gathered for a small ceremony and helped Petroskey unveil the new bench with a ribbon-cutting on Feb. 27.

Residents are asked to continue to help North Branford recycle plastic film by droping off materials meeting program recycling requirements at one of several collection points set up around town.

Acceptable plastic film includes plastic bags (grocery bags, newspaper sleeves, produce bags, bread bags, dry cleaning bags, ice bags, wood pellet bags, salt bags, and zipper bags etc.) and plastic merchandise wraps (from water bottle cases, diapers, bathroom tissue, paper towels etc.), as well as bubble wrap and shipping pillows. When in doubt, just remember all plastic bags with recycling symbols #2 or #4 are accepted.

In addition to Smith Library, other organization and merchant locations serving as collection sites include: Country Paint and Hardware, T.J's Launderette, North Branford Town Hall, Atwater Town Library, Stanley T. Williams Community Center, Northford Store and The Food Pantry of North Branford.

In addition, Big Y and Stop and Shop, as well as Target and Wal-Mart are chain retailers across the state accepting plastic film recycling in bins at the front of stores.