Find Attractive, Eco-Friendly Furnishings

Many parks and recreation organizations have a mission to reduce their environmental impact, and this mission often drives decisions about everything from what to plant in the landscape to what kinds of materials are most appropriate for furnishings like benches, receptacles and picnic tables. At the same time, park designers look for ways to make their sites beautiful. Combining these two goals means looking for furnishings that are both aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly.

Q: We are looking for eco-friendly furnishings for our park. What should we consider?

A: You can find furnishings made of recycled plastic lumber in a variety of colors. High-density polyethylene is a raw material derived from post-consumer bottle waste, which means the end product is more than 90 percent recycled. In addition, you should talk to your manufacturer about their internal processes for reducing waste. For example, does the scrap plastic from manufacturing get recycled further? Anything that can be done to reduce the waste stream will have a positive impact.

Q: We'd like to use recycled plastic furnishings, but we're looking for the more natural look of wood.

A: Look for recycled plastic lumber that has been manufactured to re-create the look, feel and depth of wood. Wood grain recycled plastic boasts all the longevity and eco-friendliness of recycled plastic lumber while giving you the more natural look of wood. Extruded with a multicolor tonal streaking and etched with wood grain texture, wood grain recycled plastic lumber achieves a realistic wood-like look. What's more, it's made of 95 percent recycled content.

Q: What else should we know?

A: While maintenance for recycled plastic furnishings is minimal, you should regularly inspect your furnishings for wear, and for loose or missing hardware. In the event of graffiti, you can use a pressure washer. Scratches and carvings can be hand-sanded with fine-grade sandpaper to remove sharp edges.