MARS — Resident and Mars Centennial Lions Club Secretary Jan-Raye Gardner shared news of her club’s triumph with borough council Monday night.

A Trex Outdoor bench, which the Lions Club has pursued by collecting plastic since February, is on its way to the borough.

“We earned the bench as of May, which means we went from zero to 500 pounds (of recycled plastic) very fast,” Gardner said.

Gardner told the council the club has been producing about 125 pounds a month of plastic to be recycled into a benches.

“Thanks primarily to Mars Agway,” Gardner said. “(It’s) been doing a huge job of collecting all the wraps from their stuff.”

Gardner added the plastic collection wouldn’t be possible without Agway. She calculated that the store is providing 70 or 80 percent of the recycling work alone.

Although individuals are helping with the collection, there’s only one collection box. Gardner said the club is hesitant to put out more boxes because there aren’t many volunteers who can get the plastic to Giant Eagle for recycling.

Gardner brought color samples for council to review. The bench will be made of the recycled plastic, which will be melted down and compressed into Polywood. She said the 4-foot bench has a commercial warranty of three years and a residential warranty of 20 years. It is treated so the color won’t fade.

“We think this will be an asset,” Gardner said.

The club can obtain a bench every six months by recycling. It’s already collecting plastic for a second bench, which would be delivered sometime in December or January. Council discussed where the benches should go.

“I think we should just think of them as universal benches, maybe used in different parts of town,” said Councilwoman Julie Schultheis.

The council determined the bench should be dark brown. A plaque will be installed on it later that Gardner said should “thank (the) citizens of Mars, borough of Mars and Agway.”

The bench will be sent to the borough upon the Lions Club’s request.