Library collecting plastic caps
After the 200 pounds of plastic caps and lids have been collected and sorted by the library, it will take a month or two to process and extrude the bench from the recycled materials.
The Dover Public Library is looking for ways to reuse common plastic items and asking patrons to help.
The library is collecting plastic caps from soda and water bottles, as well as plastic lids off drinks to be turned into a recycled plastic bench that will be placed on library grounds.
The idea was kicked off by one of Dover Public Library’s many patrons.
“One of our library patrons, Eric Reip, saw a small article in Parade Magazine about the project and suggested the library look into it as a possible community project,” said Jim Gill, director of the Dover Public Library.
Reip is a New Philadelphia resident.
The goal for the project is to collect 200 pounds of the caps and lids.
“2020 has been a challenging year for us all,” Gill said. “The pandemic, social unrest, the economy, the election, I am a firm believer that there are times in life when you need to be intentional about getting things back on track — even if it is something small like rallying the community about a recycling program. It may seem inconsequential to some, but the intentional act of saving a plastic lid or cap is a step in the right direction. It shows that you care about the community and the environment and that each and every one of us can do something to create change.”
And that change also will bring about new seating everyone can enjoy.
“The bench will be placed on library grounds where the public can use and enjoy it,” Gill said.
After the 200 pounds of plastic caps and lids have been collected and sorted by the library, it will take a month or two to process and extrude the bench from the recycled materials made possible through the ABC Promise Partnership with Green Tree Plastics out of Evansville.
The Dover Public Library also will mentor youth through its recruitment of youth volunteers to help sort the caps and lids, Gill said. Not only will this be outreach for local youth, but also for the public as the library will provide community programming on responsible use of plastic through this program.
The Dover Public Library is looking for a sponsor to help cover the costs of this project. The sponsor money will cover the cost of getting the sorted caps to Green Tree Plastics and will cover the cost of the extrusion process.
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or in the program in general should call Gill at the library at 330-343-6123.
The library also is preparing for another program. Baseball historian and author Scott Longert will present a program for the library via Zoom on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Longert will share stories about an exciting period for the Cleveland Indians baseball team including the signing and development of Bob Feller as the greatest pitcher in team history, as well as anecdotes of injuries, bats flying into the stands and frays in the dugout, Gill said. He said the program will amuse fans of the Indians, of the game of baseball and of the history of the city of Cleveland.
Longert also will introduce his latest book, “Cy Young: An American Baseball Hero.”
The Dover Public Library is located at 525 Walnut St. in Dover.