TALKING TRASH!
“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. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect.”
Social Principles of the United Methodist Church – “The Natural World” https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-natural-world
On Earth Sunday I talked about the 4.5 pounds of trash the average American generates each day. We are responsible for that trash, that’s mostly paper, food waste, yard clippings, and plastic.
What can we do…?
- Remember the original 3R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…there are more R’s, but at least start with these three.
- Discover your local recycling center! (550 Recycle Drive, just around the corner from Aldi’s). That can take care of virtually all your miscellaneous paper – even receipts, magazines, flyers, newspapers. (We have a box in the garage for this stuff.) They also take cardboard, recyclable plastics, cans (both tin and aluminum), electronics, brown paper and food cartons. They’re open Monday through Friday, from 7am to 3:30pm.
- Be mindful of packaging around what you buy – don’t pay for in $$$ or cost to Creation what will just be tossed when you get home. Our rule of thumb – you don’t need a bag (paper or plastic) for anything you can carry in two hands!
- Compost! All our food and yard waste goes into the composter in our back yard. Your garden and your landscaping will thank you!
Why is this important…?
What goes into our household waste goes into our landfill, generating methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.
Check out the websites below for more information on how the United Methodist Church responds to and supports Creation Care
https://umcmission.org/earthkeepers/
https://www.umc.org/en/what-we-believe/umc-topics/social-issues/creation-care
Caring for God’s Great Gift of Creation – Sara