Single-use plastic bags are one of the most common items collected during freshwater and marine cleanups. During the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup, nearly a million plastic bags were collected. As plastic degrades, it affects wildlife health, impairs water quality, and affects shoreline aesthetics. With help from Pennsylvania Sea Grant, students at Iroquois Elementary School in Erie, Pennsylvania, developed a recycling program that put a dent in the plastic bag problem and improved their Lake Erie community. Iroquois Elementary strives to prepare students for a changing world and promotes responsible citizenship. Teachers encourage students to engage in projects that can affect change in their communities.