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March 14 – Does your Church Recycle/Compost?

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But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18 V 4 Have you ever heard of composting or recycling in your church? Is it currently being practiced in the church? Church members can become stewards of resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the amount of waste that goes into the trash and eventually into landfills. The church needs to take notice of the impacts associated with its actions and make a conscious decision to care for God’s creation. This can be done through recycling and composting in the church. Importance and benefits of recycling and composting: It conserves raw materials – making new products out of recycled materials reduces the need to consume raw resources.   It saves energy – using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials. It helps protect the environment – recycling reduces the need for extracting (mining, quarrying and logging), refining and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution. Composting will help reduce the amount of methane released when biodegradable waste (such as food) decomposes in landfills.  It saves you money – A massive reduction in the amount of waste we send to landfill will result in reduced operational costs of landfills Enriches soil, composting helps retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. Compost reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Compost encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material. Composting improves the health of the church yard and garden  Over 50% of what we throw in the garbage can be recycled. An additional 25% of our trash is comprised of food wastes and other materials that could be composted.  Make a difference in sustainability of the world by recycling and composting at church. Why it’s important to recycle and compost  

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March 13 – Reduce Paper Usage

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“You shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down.” ~ Deuteronomy 20:19 Look at use of paper at home, office and church. What can you change? Today, millions of people worldwide are still overwhelmed by floods if paper sticking out if their desks and drawers. The right technology to prevent this has been invented years ago yet people are still dependent on paper. From our newspapers to our paper wrappings, paper is still everywhere and most of it ends up in landfills creating a huge amount of paper waste. Why should you reduce paper usage: Saves you money in the long run. Paper costs tend to add up over time. The process of recycling paper requires energy and usually bleaching agents. Both bleach and energy production generally harm the environment. About 90% of paper comes from trees, the majority of which are not sustainably harvested. By reducing your paper use you can reduce the demand for this generally non-renewable industry. What you can do: Always ask for digital versions of documents Always ask for digital versions for example: Use a notes app instead of your paper notebook; Use your built-in smartphone calendar instead of a paper planner/calendar; Use reminders or task managers on your smart phone instead of sticky notes; Use a cloud storage like Dropbox instead of your paper filing cabinet Sign up for electronic bills Use online signup forms instead of paper forms Switch from paper books to soft copy books Do not print out pew leaflets at church, use a projector instead Use the Bible App instead of using a hard copy bible Do not use disposable material such as cups, plates, cutlery etc Switch to email instead of posted mail Use electronic devices for meetings. Encourage the use laptops, tablets, and mobile phones for meetings and other situations where they need to take notes. Switch to digital receipts Switch to e-signatures Use cloth napkins Use rags instead of paper towels. Use a handkerchief instead of tissue. Use a white board for lists/notes/announcements. Buy bulk foods using your own reusable containers rather than buying supermarket boxed goods. Recycle paper https://www.jotform.com/how-to-go-paperless/ https://www.visionofearth.org/live-green/31-ways-to-reduce-paper-usage/ Photo by Brandi Redd on Unsplash

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March 12 – Audit your Waste

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“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’” ~ John 6:12 Check out how much waste you have at home. How can you reduce it? The waste we generate and throw out is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to waste generation. For every kilogram of waste your family creates, more than 71 kilograms was created in manufacturing that waste. Every year the worlds’ nations generate 1.3 billion tons of solid waste. That amounts to 1.2 kilograms per person per day and this number is expected to rise to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. Be part of the solution by ensuring that we do not reach this massive amount by 2025.The idea of reducing one’s waste can be overwhelming, a great place to start is within the comfort of your own home. The problem with waste production is that; waste is sent to landfills and incinerators which emit hazardous toxins and greenhouse gases into the environment, destroy wildlife habitats, and pose a major threat to humans What can you do? Purchase products with less packaging- Buy in bulk, switch to concentrated products, or choose brands that reduce packaging and avoid Individually Wrapped Items. Use reusable shopping bags and containers. Reduce unwanted mail- Contact local and regional companies sending you unwanted mail and ask to be taken off their list. Just Mow the grass. Leave grass clippings on your lawn. The clippings will decompose, adding much needed nutrients to your grass and lightening the waste you produce. Drink from a reusable mug or water bottle. Compost food scraps and yard trimmings. Repair furniture or list on the internet for sale. Limit household hazardous waste. Measure before you purchase paint, pesticides, and fertilizers so you don’t overbuy. Plan out your meals. Creating a list of items you need to buy will help reduce food waste at home and give you a better idea of when you need to go to the store. http://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/reducing_waste_at_home https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reduce-home-waste_n_57912d0be4b0fc06ec5c4b56 Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash

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March 11 – Bring Your Own Bag

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“You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”  ~ Haggai 1 : 6 Buy reusable shopping for yourself and for a buddy When one goes to the grocery store and gets ready to leave, a commonly asked question is; plastic or paper bag? Whatever your response may be, there is a batter way to carry your groceries.  The movement of using reusable shopping bags is becoming more popular and everyone needs to part take in it. The world seems to be suffocating under endless piles of plastic bags and we need to act as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the environment and ourselves. While reusable shopping bags cost a little more up front, there are many benefits of reusable bags, particularly when it comes to easing plastic bag pollution and the effects of plastic on the environment. Benefits if using reusable shopping bags: Using reusable bags over plastic bags can save money. Many stores impose an extra charge for plastic bags. By bringing your own reusable bag, you will be saving money each time you go to the grocery store, buy a new outfit, or run errands. Save Resources. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable, use crude oil and natural gas to manufacture, and require even more fossil fuels to ship. Protect wildlife. More than 100,000 marine animal deaths are caused each year when marine animals mistake plastic shopping bags in the ocean for food, according to SPREP.org. Plastic bags also get snagged in trees, and small animals can become trapped in them, leaving to even more wildlife deaths in the environment. By using a reusable bag, you are not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, but you will also be reducing the amount of money your community spends on waste clean up costs each year. Decrease pollution. The effects of plastic on the environment can be devastating. Plastic products such as plastic bags can take between 15 to 1,000 years to break down, and that’s assuming they make it into a landfill instead of winding up in water such as streams, rivers or the ocean or floating around the neighbourhood. Of the 100 billion plastic shopping bags Americans use each year, only about 1 percent are recycled, and therefore a lot of plastic bag pollution is generated annually. Reusable bags are durable and reliable. Unlike plastic bags, reusable bags can carry more items at a time, it will not break and will result in less amount of shopping bags to carry. Their durability prevents them from tearing and because they are reliable, you can use them for multiple purposes and multiple times. Make a positive environment impact by buying a reusable bags or better yet buy a bag for you and a loved one. The next time you are asked; plastic or paper bag? Ask to purchase a reusable bag, or better yet take out your own reusable bag https://plastic.education/benefits-of-using-reusable-shopping-bags/ https://totebagfactory.com/blogs/news/8-reasons-you-should-use-reusable-grocery-bags Photo by bach hanzo from Pexels

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March 10 – Say NO to Styrofoam

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‘I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.” ~ Jeremiah 2 :7 Styrofoam is one of the most used packaging methods in the food industry. It is convenient, cheap, and provides excellent conditions for storage of food and beverages. Styrofoam is a disposable product made of polystyrene, which is a petroleum-based plastic. Styrofoam has more harmful effects as compared to its convenience. There is a need to inform people about the environmental and health impacts it poses on people and the planet. The harms from plastic Styrofoam mainly are: Environmental Impacts Polystyrene is non-biodegradable. A Styrofoam cup can take as long as 500 years to decompose completely. Recycling Styrofoam is very expensive, it is usually disposed of, taking up a lot of space in landfills, even more than paper, and may eventually re-enter the environment when landfills are breached. Styrofoam is harmful for the environment because it is made with petroleum, a non-renewable resource which contributes to air pollution and climate change. When not disposed in a proper manner, Styrofoam can contribute to flooding by clogging drains. When Styrofoam enters our waterways, it can be ingested by aquatic animals, thus harming or killing them. Health Impacts Polystyrene, the main material in Styrofoam, contains the substances Styrene and Benzene, which are both considered carcinogens (cancer causing) and neurotoxins that are extremely hazardous to human health. Hot foods or liquids, alcohols, oils and acidic foods start a partial breakdown of Styrofoam, causing some toxins to be released into our foods, which, when eaten, are absorbed into our bloodstream. According to studies, women exposed to styrene vapours have demonstrated menstrual disorders, and suffered from metabolic disturbances occurring during pregnancy. Other health impacts include: Irritation of the skin; irritation of the eyes; irritation of the upper respiratory tract; Gastrointestinal problems; and affects kidney function

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March 9 – Spring Cleaning your Cupboards

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John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” ~ Luke 3:11 Spring cleaning is meant to declutter, organize, and sanitize your homes. Spring cleaning is always a great way to clear out all the cluster in your home and you can do it in an eco-friendly way and be green. So this lent take the initiative to clear out your closet and do it in a eco-friendly way. Most times people create a lot of waste when they spring clean. Here are ways which you can spring clean the green way: Reduce: The first step to fighting messes and keeping your home clean is getting rid of all that stuff you never use Go room-by-room, drawer-by-drawer, closet-by-closet and group the items that you haven’t used in a while. If you cannot remember that last time you used it, or you forgot that you had it, it is a good sign that it is time to let it go. Reuse: Once you have separated the items from your closet, avoid the “throw it away” mentality and think about how the item can get re-used. Donate: Once you have noted down what you can use, separate out items that someone else might need. There are probably plenty of items that you don’t need or want anymore, but someone else would appreciate. Garage sale: If you do not want to donate your clothes, you can host a garage sale in your community Photo by mentatdgt from Pexels

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