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Recycling

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Dear Westminster,

When I first moved to Greenwood in 2009, I was surprised to learn that the city did not recycle. Growing in up California, there never was a time in my life where our community did not have weekly curbside recycling pickup. The same was true at my mother’s house in rural Arizona and at my university in rural New York. By the time I moved to Greenwood, recycling had become second nature, so when I was forced to throw bottles, cans, paper, and plastics into the trash, I felt dirty and wrong.

Now that I oversee Greenwood’s recycling program, I’ve realized that one of my biggest challenges will be overcoming my own biases towards recycling. The environmental, social, and economic benefits are so clear to me that it is difficult for me to understand or relate to people who do not share my views. In a way, I am a recycling fanatic whose evangelistic mission may be undermined by his own zeal.

I’ve realized that I need to do more listening and less talking. Sure, I can rattle off statistics about reduced carbon emissions, energy efficiency, landfill savings and so on, but, like with many things we are willing to beat a drum about, making lots of noise may not change hearts and minds. So if you do not currently recycle, I humbly ask you to stop me next time you see me and tell me why. I promise I’ll keep my statistics to myself (unless you are curious!).

To that end, I recently met with church leadership to discuss our church’s current recycling efforts, which haven’t been going well. The rolling recycling bins have been getting filled with trash instead of recycling, which prevents the recycling crews from picking them up. As a group, we decided to eliminate the rolling bins and replace them with smaller containers that will be kept in a closet to prevent contamination. We will primarily be recycling office paper, bulletins and any other paper waste the church produces. We also will place two collection bins in the fireside room for paper and aluminum/plastic. Our goal is to become more efficient recyclers now with an eye towards growth in the future.

One of the things I love about Westminster is that we have a space to be vulnerable. So please help me be more effective in promoting sustainability and good stewardship in Greenwood.  And, if you are so inclined, consider signing up for curbside pickup!

In Christ,

Derek

1 Comment

Derek I'm so excited about your new role! The Kelly's miss recycling since moving to Grenada. The kids loved watching the truck in the moving and they also loved sorting it!

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