BRICK – Two local Girl Scouts have turned more than 1,000 pounds of discarded plastic into something lasting for their town—a community bench.
Cadettes Sadie McCutchan and Kiely Weisert recently earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor a Cadette can achieve, after completing a project aimed at raising awareness about recycling and sustainability. Each dedicated over 50 hours to the effort.
The girls focused on shrink wrap and other film plastics that often cannot be recycled curbside. Partnering with Trex Company, which repurposes the materials into outdoor products, they coordinated a collection drive across schools, hospitals, other troops, and among family and friends.
“Recycling this type of plastic is so important because it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or oceans, where it can harm wildlife and pollute ecosystems,” the scouts said in a joint statement. “It also conserves natural resources, saves energy, and helps cut greenhouse gas emissions.”
Their community collected more than the 1,000 pounds required for Trex to create a bench. The finished piece was recently unveiled at a ceremony and now serves as a permanent reminder of environmental stewardship.
“This bench will be here for many years as a reminder of the importance of recycling,” one scout said. “We hope other troops and communities continue projects like this and keep spreading awareness.”
The Silver Award recognizes leadership, problem-solving, and community service. For McCutchan and Weisert, the project left behind not just a bench, but also a legacy of sustainability for future generations.
