We’re being green! One of the projects I received approval for was to create a recycling station at church. Through our normally scheduled activities I noticed we were creating plastic bag and film waste, as well as Styrofoam waste, and as part of my decluttering efforts I was finding old and corroded batteries stashed all over the place. Creating a recycling station to consolidate collecting these items and educating our members was very important to me as a City of Austin Zero Waste Block Leader. As a United Methodist and a United Women in Faith member, implementing sustainable initiatives and Climate Justice are responsibilities for which we are called, particularly me.
“All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings.”
https://www.umcjustice.org/what-we-care-about/environmental-justice
We have:
- a small trash can to discourage trash
- battery recycling for the church and Wesley School early education childcare center
- Styrofoam recycling
- plastic bag and film recycling
We accumulate all these things as part of the course of our church. We also encourage our church members and Wesley School Daycare daycare families and staff to bring these items in as well to divert them from the landfill.
Batteries are taken to the Windsor Park branch of the Austin Public Library who partners with fellow City of Austin department, Austin Resource Recovery to recycle all types and sizes of batteries. Batteries can be taken to any Austin Public Library branch, location on this battery list, or by appointment to the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. We mostly acquire batteries at church from A/V equipment and clocks.
I also take the Styrofoam to the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Some of our members find holding Styrofoam cups easier and lighter due to arthritis or other hand issues or age than reusable cups. Styrofoam bowls are also easier and cheaper to find for our Chili Cook-off compared to compostable bowls and while we have a ton of reusable plates and utensils, apparently bowls are pretty breakable and we don’t have any.
It’s important when setting up stations and methods to divert waste from the landfill to review what is creating the waste in the first place and if it can be replaced. It may be cheaper at some point to purchase or find a bunch of ceramic bowls. We may be able to use rechargeable batteries in our A/V equipment but someone will have to remember to charge the batteries, so do we have staff to do that and will they want to/remember? Things to think about.
This location, as well as the Wesley School battery collection bin, are at the central congregation points of each part of the building to help keep things close. Most of our waste is creating on Sundays around worship and hospitality so this is the most eye-catching and accessible place to hold this station.
If you’re interested here’s my church’s website: https://memorialumcaustin.org/
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