It all started with a simple idea: collecting soft plastic and packaging waste and turning it into something meaningful. With support from his family, teachers, and local businesses, Charlie began gathering plastic from all over the Springbrook main campus and beyond. Thanks to his efforts and the contributions from places like Dollar General, Vêsucré, and most notably Ace Hardware—who donates up to 80 pounds of plastic at a time—Charlie collected over 1,000 pounds of material.
That mountain of plastic was submitted to the NexTrex® Recycling Challenge, a program launched by the Trex® Company, which sponsors recycling initiatives across the country for schools, civic groups, and other organizations. For surpassing the 1,000-pound goal within 12-months, Charlie’s efforts were rewarded with a Trex® bench made entirely from the recycled plastic he collected.
The bench arrived during the week of May 5th, and while its final home is still being decided—either the playground or along the nature trail on the main campus—it already symbolizes something far greater than just a place to sit. Plans are underway to add a plaque honoring Charlie’s hard work and his incredible environmental impact.
But Charlie is not stopping there.
As of May 14th, he has already collected another 600 pounds of plastic for a second round of the NexTrex® challenge. With help from Springbrook, his family, and additional supporters like Kids Unlimited Preschool, which now has a plastic collection bin on-site, Charlie’s movement is growing. Even Dustin Rheel, a fellow student and bus mate, is now helping out—thanks to Charlie’s encouragement. Dustin collects plastic with Faye Huntington, physical therapist at Springbrook, allowing Charlie to focus more on his schoolwork and other responsibilities.
Charlie’s process is organized and independent. Using his TD1-110 device, he photographs the collected plastic, logs the data, and submits the total weight directly to NexTrex® as part of the challenge tracking process. In addition, he sends emails updating his progress each week. Each submission brings him one step closer to earning another bench and continuing his mission to reduce plastic waste in the environment.
Recently, Charlie was honored by Ace Hardware for his outstanding commitment. The company was so inspired that they plan to connect with other local businesses to encourage broader participation in Charlie’s cause.
To celebrate his accomplishments in the NexTrex® recycling project, Charlie was treated to a special ice cream social featuring chocolate and cookie dough flavors donated by Stewart’s Shops—a company supportive of Charlie’s commitment to waste reduction and recycling.
Charlie’s story is one of inspiration, inclusion, and hope. Charlie is proving that even small actions—like collecting a bag of plastic—can lead to big change.
