Three of the town’s 7 elementary school principals are seated on one of the benches made from the recycled plastic collected by the town’s elementary school students. Standing, (left to right) First Selectman Tim Herbst, Gary Cialfi, Asst. Superintendent of Schools and Craig Slavtcheff, Sr. Vice President, R&D.

TRUMBULL – Elementary school students, representing seven schools, were challenged at the beginning of the school year by Sun Products Corporation of Wilton, to collect enough plastic containers so as to win a ‘park bench’ for their respective schools,  made from their recycled plastic. The result of the students’ efforts was the collection of 24,800 plastic containers, weighing-in at 1.24 tons. Lining the containers end to end would be equivalent to 88 football fields.

The collected plastic was transported to Tangent Technologies in Chicago and fabricated into sustainable lumber used to make the benches.  This project is a continuation of the FULL CIRCLE Playground Initiative, partnering Sun Products Corporation (maker of fabric and dish care products) and the town of Trumbull,  to bring recycling full circle through a voluntary drop-off in-school program in order to provide a non-traditional learning activity for the children of Trumbull.  Last fall, Sun Products associates and local citizens participated in a one-day community build to install a playground on the property of the Trumbull Nature & Arts Center.

“Trumbull continues to invest in and deliver sustainable practices and green initiatives,” said First Selectman, Tim Herbst.  To advance our commitment to environmental responsibility, it is critical we gain interest among our town’s youngest citizens – the children.  Partnering with Sun Products on the FULL CIRCLE Playground Initiative provides the perfect forum to demonstrate a shared commitment to stewardship and sustainability and to imprint bonds of stewardship for the future.”

The presentation of the benches took place at the Trumbull Nature & Arts Center.

Photo Caption (photo 2496):  Three of the town’s 7 elementary school principals are seated on one of the benches made from the recycled plastic collected by the town’s elementary school students. Standing, (left to right) First Selectman Tim Herbst, Gary Cialfi, Asst. Superintendent of Schools and Craig Slavtcheff,  Sr. Vice President,  R&D.