The Gallatin County Extension Homemakers Environmental Project started off as a project for Extension Homemakers to collect and recycle plastic lids and caps into a park bench. Over the last two years this projects has transformed and grew from a small environmental project into an entire communitywide involved project. 

Students for Gallatin County Schools have become instrumental in the Homemaker Environmental Project. Members of the Community Cats Club, a club for 1st and 2nd grade students focusing on community service projects has led the school efforts in lid and cap collection. Every Friday student leaders will visit other classrooms and collect lids. Students will then sort lids and caps. Students of the Community Cats Club took a field trip to the local Extension Office. While at the Extension Office youth learned the importance of recycling and learned more about the project. 

Most recently, similar to a penny war, lower elementary students collected plastic lids and caps. The classroom with the most lids received a classroom party. Homemaker members and the county Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent visited the school to explain to kids about recycling. Youth were also informed about the acceptable and non-acceptable caps lids.  To date we have collected close to 5,000 pounds of plastic lids and caps. We have 13 benches in the community with another 5 ordered.