'Green' tips anyone?

1sttimer_2

Hi, I hope this is ok to post on here. My church have just formed a 'green' group and are wanting to give out a 'Tip of the Week' in our newssheet to encourge the congregation to become more 'green'. We are working on the 4R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Respect.

I told them I've read many good things on here so hope you can help me or direct me to somewhere I can find some tips.

Thanks

(PS posted this on the Old Style and Greenfingered(by accident!) forums also.)

moonrakerz

Remove excess packaging in the supermarket and leave it at the checkout.

se999

http://www.morsbags.com/

I spotted this on here before. It's a scheme to try to get people to use old curtains etc to make fabric bags, instead of using plastic.

For a church group you'd probably be able to get people to donate fabric, and then hopefully get people to make the bags which you could sell to help church funds too.

Not sure if that was quite what you were looking for, as it isn't really a tip.

SaverSarah_2

Okay, here are just a handful of suggestions. There are literally hundreds of tiny habit changes you can make. Reducing is the key, as the recycling process has its own problems – there's no enough demand for many recycled products so it's important to look out for recycled materials to buy, as well as recycling as much of your own waste as possible.

Reduce the number of carrier bags you take from shops, using canvas bags or bags for life for your shopping. Any carrier bags you do take can be used as bin bags.

Keep all the return envelopes from your junk mail, credit card statements etc. When you need an envelope, simply cross out the address and stick on a stamp. This is really useful for all those forms/dinner money/trip money requests from school – there's no need to use a new envelope each time.

Keep padded envelopes and plastic mailing bags for when you need to post parcels (great for eBayers!). Plastic mailing bags can be turned inside out and reused. Again, why pay for packaging?

Back to reducing, when you're doing your supermarket shopping become more aware of the unnecessary packaging on the items you buy. For example, maybe choose loose croissants instead of a pack of four in a huge plastic box that can't be recycled.

Consider joining a local organic fruit and veg box scheme. Our local scheme brings produce in a cardboard box each week that can be folded up once it's empty and returned to them for reuse the following week.

Consider joining your local Freecycle. It works on the basis that one man's junk is another man's treasure. You'd be surprised how much of what you would otherwise consider chucking away can be useful to other people. Some weird things I've managed to find a home for include chunks of polystyrene packaging, old tyres and half-melted candles!

Wash your dishcloths and kitchen sponges (sounds obvious but I know so many people that just chuck them out).

Get your printer cartridges refilled at Cartridge World. Give your old towels to your local animal shelter. Rinse out and keep your cleaning product spray bottles and make your own old-style multi-surface cleaner out of vinegar, water and lemon juice (okay, am overlapping with the OS board here, sorry!).

I'd better stop there and get on with some work, I could run and run on this one...

Good luck!

:A

500yearvision

Please find below a link to an article 'be eco clever'.

I hope it's useful for your group!

BungleGirl

I second the idea of promoting www.morsbags.com - there is a forum on their website and there is someone on there who has set up a 'pod' with the ladies from her church and they have made loads of bags - at my 'pod' meetings we all sit around trying to work out how to make the sewing machine go backwards and which way round the bobbin should go!

99percentchimp

Hey, everyone. This is really great thread, I have really enjoy reading it.

I just blogged about how you can save money and also help the environment via a reduction in your carbon footprint here

I called it 10 Easy Steps to Save Thousands of $$$. It also helps you to reduce your carbon footprint as well. Can't be bad!

I like the Freecycle and Cartridge World suggestions from SaverSarah and may add them to my 10 points.

cazrobinson

instead of a newssheet send out an email!

ailuro2

Print the hymn sheets on both sides!

Urge the congregation to sit closer to each other in winter to share each others warmth- literally and figuratively speaking:D - and save a packet on the heating too!

If the local council don't collect them, get the congregation to collect aluminium cans and bring them in, let the sunday school kids crush them- then sell them for recycling. Much more practical and welcome than the fill the smarties tube with 20p coins moneyraiser.

Change from tallow candles to veggie candles- cleaner and greener.

Use potted plants for some of the flower displays- they last longer, and haven't needed a heated greenhouse to grow them.

And so on.....have a competition to see who can come up with the best suggestion, they can win some energy saving bulbs, or a hand-made morsbag?

se999

Recipes to use local seasonal produce. Maybe include links to local markets, suppliers and schemes.

Also vegetarian recipes to promote more vegetarian meals. Meat and dairy products take far more energy to produce.

For both the above, try to get the church to do this for organised meals/events too.