Mount Olivet Reduces, Reuses, Recycles!

Sep 2012 – Aug 2013Sponsored by a Grant from Community POWER

Reduce the amount of trash that Mt Olivet generates

Recycle more of our waste (including organics recycling)

Evaluate our use of toxic chemicals (reduce and dispose of properly)

Advance awareness, knowledge, and application of these issues among our members.

Visited Burroughs Elementary School to see trash sorting in the lunchroom

Met with the Creation Care team at St Joan of Arc in South Minneapolis

Had our trash weighed in April 2012 to establish a baseline measurement◦ 25.2% of our trash was recycled◦ 74.8% went to the landfill/burner

The Mount Olivet Creation Care team promotes caring for God’s creation and serves as a resource in the areas of:◦ worship life◦ education◦ buildings & grounds◦ at home & work◦ outreach and affiliate ministriesSo that earth keeping becomes integral to the

identity of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.

Vision statement:◦ Leading in creation care throughout our church

and community.

Meets monthly (ongoing after project ends) Develops and supports action plans for

educational activities and changes at the church

Reviews progress

Purchased and installed new recycling and organics recycling bins

Trained volunteers (starting with 20 stewardship dinners) to recycle and compost table trash.

Educated church staff (including custodians) about the grant and our renewed commitment to recycling.

Acted on ideas to reduce our trash

In order to become better stewards of God’s creation, Mount Olivet has expanded our recycling program to include organic waste!

Today’s event will have only a small amount of trash going to the landfill while other waste products from this event will be either recycled or commercially composted.

The creation care team thanks you!

Presented Sunday School program to “Caring for God’s Creation” – 674 kids

Ben Knudsen, Hennepin County – spoke about the county’s 5 year plan and answered recycling questions

Kim Labo (Healthy Action Coalition) - evaluate our use of toxic products. ◦ We will use up old chemicals that we already have◦ Use guidelines to use for future purchases.

* Initial baseline before project started

DateTotal Trash (lbs)

%Recycled

% Organic

% Trash

% of total Trash Diverted

Lbs of Trash Diverted

April 2012*

9,520 25.2% 0 74.8%

25.2%

2,400

* Initial baseline before project started

DateTotal Trash (lbs)

%Recycled

% Organic

% Trash

% of total Trash Diverted

Lbs of Trash Diverted

April 2012*

9,520 25.2% 0 74.8%

25.2%

2,400

Oct 2012 6,280 32.8% 30.3%

36.9%

63.1% 3,960

* Initial baseline before project started

DateTotal Trash (lbs)

%Recycled

% Organic

% Trash

% of total Trash Diverted

Lbs of Trash Diverted

April 2012*

9,520 25.2% 0 74.8%

25.2%

2,400

Oct 2012 6,280 32.8% 30.3%

36.9%

63.1% 3,960

April 2013

7,440 31.5% 37.6%

30.9%

69.1% 5,140

* Initial baseline before project started

DateTotal Trash (lbs)

%Recycled

% Organic

% Trash

% of total Trash Diverted

Lbs of Trash Diverted

April 2012*

9,520 25.2% 0 74.8%

25.2%

2,400

Oct 2012 6,280 32.8% 30.3%

36.9%

63.1% 3,960

April 2013

7,440 31.5% 37.6%

30.9%

69.1% 5,140

July 2013 7,660 33.7% 39.2%

27.2%

72.8% 5,580

Understand the importance of reducing the trash that is sent to the landfills

Increase efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home.

Activities: Trained church staff – 23% changed

behavior Published “creation care” articles in bi-

weekly newsletter Trained volunteers at events

Launched a 6-week adult education program using the video series “Earthbound”

Tied scripture to practical actions Activities created energy & group

discussion◦ Timeline showing how long items stay on the

earth when they are not recycled◦ Who wants to be a Millionaire?

85% of respondents said the class made a difference in their recycling activities

Hymns reflected the Earth Day theme Giveaways: Bookmarks, Reuseable bags Creation Care team available to answer

questions for the congregation◦ “I’m so proud of what Mt Olivet is doing to

recycle!”◦ “I have held back on some of my donations

because I didn’t think the church always used my money wisely. But now I know about the activities we are engaged in and feel better about how my contributions are used.”

Theme: Friends of the Earth 200 participants Grades K-6th with High School Counselors 4 days per camp session

◦ Preserving God’s creation◦ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle◦ Caring for our Wildlife◦ Protecting our Water

Some people don’t want to embrace change Provide your audience with opportunities to

give feedback◦ Explain WHY it is important◦ Signage – words and pictures◦ Coffee cups◦ Repeat the message many times and in different

ways Network with other organizations Use the resources available to you!

Dive into the dumpster!◦ Milk cartons – recyclable or organic waste?◦ Remind people to empty their plastic cups◦ Nursery school teacher made a list of

questionable items to be researched◦ Home Economist switched to more items being

served family style (vs individual cups) Network with other organizations Send someone to Hennepin County’s Master

Recycler/Composter course

“I was helping Nicholas clean the playroom and we had a nice bag of garbage. As we left he looked at me and said “you ARE going to recycle that, RIGHT?”” – a mom of a Kings Kids program participant

“Now that I see what a difference we have made in our recycling efforts here at church, I am so much more aware of what needs to be done in our community. I am amazed at how many places I go that have no recycling bins.”- A custodian at Mount Olivet

Congregation is proud of our results Mount Olivet West – expands recycling

program September 2013 Mount Olivet Retreat Center will expand to

organics when hauler can carry it Plan to expand to other Mt Olivet facilities

as it becomes feasible

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church◦ Custodians◦ Staff◦ Volunteers◦ Creation Care team◦ Congregation

The Community POWER grant◦ Supported us financially◦ Forced us to get organized and establish goals,

timelines, and activities◦ Pushed us beyond just buying trash bins to do

more recycling. Our activities created more awareness in the congregation.

◦ Asked us to commit to continue activities beyond the grant period.