Grocers encourage recycling with grant program

After five years, the Build with Bags recycling grant program has donated $177,665.71 to more than 100 schools and parks across the state and kept hundreds of thousands of plastic bags out of landfills.

Park benches, picnic tables and planters are a few of the items made from recycled plastics bags that make their way to Iowa parks and playgrounds each spring courtesy of the Build with Bags Program.

Each item represents thousands of plastics bags that won't be making a trip to the landfill. For example, it takes 10,600 plastic grocery bags to make one park bench.

The idea is to use the money from the Build with Bags grants to increase plastic bag recycling efforts throughout Iowa and it's working, according to Iowa Grocery Industry Association President Michelle Hurd.

'The program takes an innovative approach to encourage individuals to recycle their plastic bags so those bags can be turned into products that beautify our communities,” explains Hurd. 'It gives Iowans a firsthand look at what happens to their plastic bags when they are recycled and demonstrates our members' commitment to the environment. Our members feel strongly that everybody wins when we recycle and play an instrumental role in securing the Build with Bags Grants for their communities.”

Grant applicants must obtain an endorsement letter from a local grocer who is supportive of the community's project and recycling plans.

For example in 2014, IGIA member Kent Wood, owner of Wood's Super Market, located in Pocahontas, wrote letters of endorsement for three recycling projects in the Pocahontas, Plover and Rolfe communities.

With Wood's support, the Build with Bags program delivered four six-foot picnic tables to Plover; one hex picnic table, one ADA walk-through table and three six-foot park benches to Pocahontas; and seven park benches to Rolfe.

'While the endorsement letter is not the only factor in the selection process, it is one of the most vital to the Build with Bags program,” Hurd explains. 'In the program committee's eyes, it reflects how the applying community is working with its local grocers to establish long-term projects and goals that help increase the awareness of plastic bag recycling.”

Encouraging purchases of furniture and equipment made from recycled plastic for parks and schools through its grant program is one of four goals established for the Build with Bags program. The other three include increasing the amount of plastic bags recycled, reducing consumption of plastic bags and increasing use of reusable bags.

IGIA retail members throughout the state participate by providing bins or barrels for shoppers to return their used bags for recycling.

The program will give thousands of dollars to Iowa schools and parks again in 2015, awarding a minimum of $20,000 in the coming year to purchase park benches, picnic tables, planters and playground equipment made from recycled plastic bags. The IGIA works with Plastic Recyclers of Iowa Falls to supply the recycled products.

'The grocery industry strongly supports recycling,” adds Hurd. 'By returning the plastic bags to recycling bins located in their local grocery stores, customers are acting as good environmental stewards and raising awareness of the importance of recycling.

Build with Bags is a cooperative effort of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Keep Iowa Beautiful, Metro Waste Authority in Des Moines, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, City Carton Recycling and The Des Moines Register.

Details on how to apply for a Build with Bags grant, as well as selection criteria, are outlined online at itseasytorecycle.org and iowagrocers.com. The deadline to apply for a Build with Bags grant is March 30, 2015. Awards will be announced on Wednesday, April 22, which is Earth Day. Notification will be made directly to each grant recipient and sponsoring Iowa Grocery Industry Association member, and with a news release on the IGIA's website: iowagrocers.com.

' Ann Seuferer is a communications specialist with the Iowa Grocery Industry Association. Comments: anns@iowagrocers.com