Millburn Girl Scouts Bag their Bronze Award and Then Some!

MILLBURN - Nine inspiring Girls Scout of Troop 20265 recently were awarded their Bronze Award by collecting over 500 pounds of recyclable plastic bags. This feat equates to an astonishing 40,500 plastic bags.

Girl Scouts earn the Bronze Award by completing a journey, and then creating a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue. Troop 20265's Take Action project was environmentally focused by tackling a serious issue - plastic film pollution.

Troop 20265 tapped into the recycling program of the Trex Co., a recycled materials manufacturer of wood-alternative outdoor items, who pledged to give the Troop a free bench if 500 pounds of plastics were collected for recycling within six months.

"Our Troop chose the bags to benches project to do a favor to our ocean, animals, and landfills.", said Lea McKenna. "We wanted to make a long lasting impact on the environment and our community. So, we decided to donate the free bench to the Washington Middle School."

Troop 20265's nine Bronze Award recipients are Zoe Barnett, Genevieve Brazell, Zaria Diggory, Emma Krupkin, Sophia Liswan, Lea McKenna, Katherine Morales, Sophia van Roon, and Lila Watzky.

The Scouts are supported by an adult leadership team consisting of Donna Chernecki, Victoria Brazell, Jim McKenna and Emily Barnett. "This was a win-win for our Scouts as they learned the importance of leadership, commitment and how to make a difference by positively helping to ensure hundreds of pounds of plastic waste didn't reach the landfills. Their efforts will be rewarded by Trex Co., as a bench has been earmarked for the Washington School. I want to congratulate this fantastic group of girls on earning their Bronze Award.", said Jim McKenna.