Keep PA Beautiful: Benches Made From Plastic Bags Donated By Giant & Martin’s Food Stores In 15 Counties

In recognition of Earth Day, GIANT and MARTIN’s Food Stores donated 25 benches made from recycled plastic bags to schools in 15 counties participating in Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Litter Free School Zone Program.

Participating schools within the GIANT and MARTIN’S Food Markets region were eligible to receive a bench. The benches were placed on school grounds across the state as part of campus restorations and playground enhancements as part of GIANT’S ongoing Bags to Benches initiative.  

The following Litter Free School Zone schools received a recycled content bench--

-- Berks County: Muhlenberg Elementary Center, Laureldale;

-- Cambria County: Blacklick Valley Jr/Sr High School, Nanty Glo;

-- Centre County: Young Scholars of Central PA, State College;

-- Chester County: Avon Grove Charter School, Avon Grove;

-- Dauphin County: Lancaster Mennonite School - Hershey Campus;

-- Huntingdon County: Stone Valley Charter School, Huntingdon;

-- Lackawanna County: Valley View High School, Archbald;   

-- Lancaster County: Fritz Elementary School, Lancaster;

-- Luzerne County: Heights-Murray Elementary School, Wilkes-Barre;

-- Lycoming County: Hughesville High School, Hughesville;

-- Monroe County: Tobyhanna Elementary School, Pocono Pines;

-- Philadelphia County: Lindley Academy Charter School, New Foundations Charter School;

-- Wayne County: EverGreen Elementary School, Lake Ariel;

-- Westmoreland County: Rostraver Elementary School, Belle Vernon;  and

-- York County: Dillsburg Elementary School, Dillsburg, Wellsville Elementary School, Wellsville.

“As part of being a responsible retailer, GIANT had set a goal of diverting 90 percent of waste going into landfills through the expansion of recycling and food waste reduction programs,” said Tom Lenkevich, GIANT president. “We ask our customers to bring their plastic bags to any store and place in the recycling bins found near the front entrances to we can recycle even more grocery bags into benches.”

Customers can recycle plastic bags at any GIANT Food Stores or MARTIN’S Food Markets. It takes about 10,000 plastic bags to make one park bench.

Since 1997, more than 1,500 benches have been donated to local fire departments, churches, schools, townships, parks and playgrounds. For more information on GIANT’S responsible retailing efforts and commitment to the environment visit GIANT’s Environment webpage..

“The Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Litter Free School Zone program encourages community leadership, responsibility and a respect for the environment and the world around them. The recycled content benches from GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S  Food Markets is an appropriate way to bring Litter Free School Zone cleanups, recycling and educational activities full circle,” stated Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are very grateful for the continuing support and generosity of GIANT and MARTIN’S.”

To participate in the litter free schools program, visit the Keep PA Beautiful Litter Free School Zone webpage or contact Stephanie Larson by sending email to: slarson@keeppabeautiful.org or 724-836-4121 x104.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new Electronics Waste website.

Sign up now for the 2017 Great American Cleanup of PA and set up your own cleanup and beautification event through May 31.