Schools net 27,000 bags for recycling in Southampton contest

Southampton Town’s latest battle against plastic bags netted an estimated 27,000 bags, weighing 385 pounds, in a competition between schools in the past six months, the town said Tuesday.

Students at Bridgehampton school district collected the most per pupil — 5,296 bags, or 39 per student.

The school will get a bench from a company that makes decking out of recycled material, and it will be honored by the town’s Plastic Bag Education Task Force.

The Village of Southampton banned plastic bags from its stores in 2011, but a similar effort in the encompassing Southampton Town failed. Instead, the town council formed the education task force.

Bridgehampton students will be honored June 4 at 2:15 p.m. at the district’s school and offices at 2685 Montauk Hwy. in Bridgehampton.

The plastic bags collected will be recycled, town officials said.