FUSS Recycling Program Evolves
by Gary Feinland
May 27, 2007
We have made a lot of changes to our recycling program this year. We now collect office paper, cardboard, cans and bottles. We also collect inkjet cartridges for reuse. These materials make up almost half of our waste stream! Therefore we have considerably reduced the amount of material that we send to the landfill.
Where are we Collecting all this Stuff?
You may have noticed a small red dumpster in the Church Parking lot. This is for cardboard. We also have a 65-gallon container for office paper that is stored outside the church near the office. Used Orders of Service and other paper is now collected in this container and recycled! TA Predel Co. of Schenectady collects the cardboard and paper for free. Cans and bottles are rinsed and placed in a green container across from the kitchen. Currently, Green Sanctuary members collect the cans and bottles and ensure that they are recycled through the county’s program.
We are working on collecting paper, cans and bottles from Waters House. Some of the classrooms already do this. Next year we plan to have small paper collection bins in each classroom and a larger bottle and can collection bin in the kitchen.
Thanks
Thank you to everyone who has helped make recycling at FUSS possible. Jeff Edwards of Schenectady County Economic Development and Planning Department provides technical advice, Susan Stedge provides input and diligently puts office paper in the recycling bin, Helen Slater ensures that the cardboard is placed in the recycling container recycled and helps work out the bugs in our recycling program, and Adult Program Council members have provided input that the Green Sanctuary Committee is working to implement. Finally, many members have made suggestions to our recycling program, and many of you rinsed out plastic and metal containers for recycling.
What’s next?
How about organics? The Garden Committee and the Green Sanctuary Committee are exploring composting some of the Church’s yard trimmings.
Waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting are some of the many activities that the Church will be undertaking as part of our mission to move towards sustainability through the implementation of our Green Sanctuary Action Plan. (Gary Feinland)
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