Planting Seeds: Begin Recycling and Waste Reduction Measures
Suggested practices and examples for implementation:
Use less plastic and avoid single-use plastic and styrofoam whenever possible
Buy products made of recycled material and/or without extra packaging
Place recycling bins in accessible locations around your congregational building (classrooms, office, dining areas, etc.) and always near other waste bins
Place baskets for bulletins and printed materials near exits of worship space
Switch to at least 30% post-consumer recycled content paper for office use
Print on both sides of the paper when possible
Encourage alternative gift-giving around holidays (donations to causes, gifts from local artisans, books from a local bookstore, a book or item that has been meaningful to you from your own home, your own artwork (a picture, a poem, a photograph). Avoid plastic trinkets whenever possible.
You can also host an alternative gift-giving fair after worship one week featuring local organizations and crafts!
Begin a clothing closet ministry in your congregation! Bring old coats, children’s clothes, etc. to your faith community and begin a free clothing exchange to lessen “fast fashion” waste.
Begin a tool-library ministry. Power tools aren’t a necessity for every home. Instead of all of us purchasing tools, we can share! Invest in tools and have a “check-out” system leading to waste reduction and community cooperation.
When you have an event, instead of purchasing plastic cups, encourage folks to bring their favorite “fun mug!” You can purchase extra fun mugs at Goodwill or a similar second-hand store and keep them in a container for events like this one.
Strive to use real silverware and plates for community meals. Organize a dish-washing committee that rotates (so that no one person always gets stuck with the dishes). Consider dish-washing as a time to get to know one another better (have a set of questions to ask each other while you clean or put on some fun music).
Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, Blowing Rock, NC
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Hendersonville, NC
Nurturing Growth: Begin Composting and Using Compostable Products
Suggested practices and example for implementation:
If using disposable to-go food boxes, plates, utensils, etc., switch to compostable versions
Provide compost bins in cooking and dining areas
Create an outdoor compost pile on the grounds of the faith community and use it for gardening
Collect compost to donate to local community gardens, give to community members with their own gardens, or find a curbside service to pick up regularly
Deepening Roots: Continue Taking Steps Toward Producing Zero Waste
Suggested practices and example for implementation:
Make all products on your campus recyclable and/or reusable (replace disposables with reusables)
For Christian communities, use washable/reusable communion cups or take communion by intinction
Continue composting at all meals or events (see above section on composting)
Provide a way for congregants to opt out of receiving paper newsletters and allow digital copies to be distributed by email instead (or, do away with the paper copy and only send digital communication)
Do a trash audit and take note of what gets thrown away each week: what could be recycled, composted, reused? What single-use items could eventually be replaced with reusable items?
Stop purchasing single-use plastics, styrofoam, and other disposable items
Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina