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Planting Seeds: Begin Recycling and Waste Reduction Measures
Suggested practices and examples for implementation:
- Place recycling bins in accessible locations around the building (classrooms, office, dining areas, etc.) and always near other waste bins
- Post signs above them and talk with your community about what gets recycled
- Place baskets for bulletins and printed materials near exits of worship spaces
- Choose not to purchase single-use plastics or styrofoam
- Buy products made of recycled material and/or without extra packaging
- 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
General information related to this strategy:
- How to start recycling at church
- Guide: What you can and cannot recycle, and where to do it
- Recycling tips and information from GreenFaith
Available resources in Western North Carolina:
- Hard 2 Recycle educational events
- Contact Eric Bradford: eric@ashevillegreenworks.org
- Asheville Recycling Guide and Information
Local faith communities currently utilizing this strategy:
- First Christian Church, Black Mountain NC
- Contact Rev. William Moore: revbillmoore74@gmail.com
- First Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
- Contact Jane Laping: janelaping@sbcglobal.net
- Jubilee Community, Asheville, NC
- Contact Chas Jansen: chas.jansen@mtsu.edu
- High Country United Church of Christ, Vilas, NC
- Contact Rev. Tamara Franks: pastor@highcountryucc.org
- First Baptist Church of Asheville, Asheville, NC
- Contact Brenda Denton: Bbelle2001@gmail.com
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
General information related to this strategy:
- Zero Waste Church primer and resources on composting
- Reducing food waste on “Project Drawdown”
Available resources in Western North Carolina:
- Danny’s Dumpster
- Available for residential and church/commercial composting.
- Compost Now
- Available for residential composting (as of summer 2018 did not do commercial/church composting)
Local faith communities currently utilizing this strategy:
- First Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
- Contact Jane Laping: janelaping@sbcglobal.net
- New Hope Presbyterian Church, Asheville NC
- Contact Janet Black: ecochristian@yahoo.com
- First Baptist Church of Asheville, Asheville, NC
- Switched to compostable materials, not yet doing compost bins
- Contact Marian Arledge: MarianSadler@gmail.com
- First Christian Church, Black Mountain NC
- Contact Rev. William Moore: revbillmoore74@gmail.com
- Jewish Community Center, Asheville, NC
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)
- 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
General information related to this strategy:
- Zero Waste Church’s “20 Steps to Becoming a Zero Waste Church” article
- Waste Audits
- 5 minute video of one congregation’s journey to zero-waste
Available resources in Western North Carolina:
- Toward Zero Waste Asheville
- Zero Waste grocery shopping locations, North Carolina
Local faith communities currently utilizing this strategy:
- The Church of the Nativity, Raleigh NC
- Jubilee Community, Asheville, NC
- Contact Chas Jansen: chas.jansen@mtsu.edu
- First Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
- Contact Jane Laping: janelaping@sbcglobal.net
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