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Board discusses soft-plastics collection, Nextrex program and Farmers Market outreach
Summary
Members proposed more public collection points for soft plastics (bread bags) citing Nextrex conversion-to-benches programs, discussed contamination and staffing challenges, and confirmed volunteers for an upcoming farmers market outreach shift.
At its Sept. 5 meeting, the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board discussed soft-plastics recycling and community outreach at upcoming Farmer's Markets.
A board member described local efforts that collect soft plastics (stretchable film such as bread bags) to be processed and turned into products like benches. Members noted that the conversion process requires large volumes of clean material and that past local collection efforts were paused due to contamination and reduced staffing.
"We shouldn't recycle those bags, but we should save them and make a commitment to get them to some place where they will be reused," the chair said, summarizing the bench-recycling concept and urging public education. Board members mentioned the Nextrex program at UW Oshkosh and that university collection points were scaled back because of contamination and staffing changes.
Members agreed to bolster outreach at the Farmer's Market, bring a small recycling bin for demonstrations, and confirmed volunteers for the next scheduled market. They also discussed providing photographs and social posts to help publicize next events. No formal city program change or budget commitment was approved at the meeting; volunteers and staff will handle collection logistics on a trial basis.
