Pastoral Council

Care for Creation Includes Recycling Common Items First in a Series

As stewards of creation, we are called to be proactive in protecting our environment and resources.  Accordingly, our parish council has launched an effort to increase recycling in our buildings and at our gatherings, and to reduce the amount of non-recyclable products used. Paper has been transferred to the paper retriever bin (NO to cardboard or phone books but YES to shredded paper in plastic bags) in the parking lot for some time.  Also, real plates, cups, and silverware are being used at our breakfasts and dinners.  Helpers at these events will be collecting all recyclable items from tables (like water bottles and plastic cups).

Next, we are using up the remaining supplies of Styrofoam cups and take out containers, and purchasing more earth friendly alternatives.  Both the parish kitchen and staff kitchen will soon have recycle bins or bags to collect items like water bottles, cans, and cardboard.  Eventually we will probably have more collection bins or bags in other areas.  Parishioners can participate by only putting trash in waste baskets and dropping recyclables in any provided containers.  Also, think about how you can make an impact in your purchases and recycling at home, and talk about it with your families.

Since the parish recycles through the township recycling collection service, the same rules apply as in your island homes:  PLEASE RECYCLE paper, cardboard (don’t forget the toilet paper and paper towel tubes), plastics (#1-7), cans (aluminum, steel, and tin), and clear glass.  DO NOT INCLUDE: Styrofoam, wax coated cardboard, grocery or produce bags, and colored glass.  PLEASE SAVE grocery bags for the parish mat makers, or drop them off at local grocery stores, including Kroger, Meijer, Target, and Walmart.  Recycle plastic tablecloths and pizza boxes only if they are clean and free of food and grease (often you can recycle the box lid even if you have to discard the box bottom).

FUN FACT: Did you know plastic milk jugs can return as plastic lumber or picnic tables and newspapers can become egg cartons?

Recycling questions or ideas, please contact Pat Bennett, 734-676-9488, or any other parish council member.

Care for Creation Includes Clothing Recycling Second in a Series

St. James Episcopal Church here on the island has a popular and traditional rummage sale the first Friday and Saturday of May and October every year.  Many of you will be cleaning out your closets and dropping off good wearable clothing there, or in the St. Vincent de Paul bin behind Sacred Heart, or at one of many other donation centers downriver.  But what will you do with clothing that has holes, stains, or tears?  What about worn out sheets, blankets, or extra fabric from sewing projects?  How about old shoes? These can all go to the nearby bright yellow “Planet Aid” bins so that some materials can be recycled into industrial rags, insulation or other products.  Some items will go to local charities while much will go to other countries where individuals can earn a living by re-purposing fabric, zippers, and buttons to make rugs, clothing or other items.

The volume of clothing that we throw away has doubled in the past 20 years, from 7 million tons to 14 million tons, with only about 15% of clothing waste being reused or recycled.  When you keep clothing and other fabrics out of the landfills you help reduce CO2 emissions (emitted from landfills and generated in the production of new fabric), reduce the land taken up by landfills, reduce the amount of insecticides and water used to make fabric, and save municipalities from the cost of collecting more trash.

“Planet Aid” bins are nearby just off the county free bridge.  One is on the south side of Riviera Market on the SW corner of Jefferson and Van Horn and another is at the gas station on Jefferson just north of the free bridge.

FUN FACT: Did you know old blue jeans can be recycled into insulation for your home and the soles of sneakers can be recycled into sports fields?

Recycling questions or ideas, please contact Pat Bennett, 734-676-9488, or any other parish council member.

Care for Creation Includes Responsible Disposal of Electronics and Hazardous Waste, Third in a Series

Soon many of us will be starting to do spring cleaning which may include items in our households that can’t be safely disposed in our trash collections or recycling bins.  It is important to keep these out of our landfills and therefore out of our soil and water.

You can drop off used batteries at the Grosse Ile Hardware or retailers like Lowes’s and Home Depot any time.  But other items may have to wait for special collections like the Wayne County Hazardous Waste Collections scheduled periodically in the Downriver area.  They will take items such as paints, lawn chemicals, motor oil and gas, computer equipment, cell phones, standard and CFL lightbulbs, mercury thermometers, and more!

These collections are drop off events on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm this year including April 22 at the Romulus Civic Center,  June 10 at Henry Ford College, August 12 in Westland, and October 7 at WCCCD in Taylor.  They make it easy by setting it up as a drive through in the parking lots so you don’t even have to exit your car.

When you do the drop off, they also hand out a very comprehensive “Resource Recovery Guide” for your future reference (or download it from the website mentioned next).  Obtain drop off addresses and a detailed list of items they will accept or will not accept here: www.waynecounty.com  Enter Hazardous Waste Collections in the Search box. We will also have a limited number of copies of the resource guide available in the parish office for those who do not have internet access.

Recycling questions or ideas, please contact Pat Bennett, 734-676-9488, or any other parish council member.

Care for Creation Includes Recycling Plastic Bags Fourth in a Series

Many of us have wondered why plastic bags (and plastic film) are NOT accepted in our township recycling bins, and what to do with all the different types of plastic bags that enter our homes.

While some programs accept bags and wraps in their curbside collection programs, most do not. That’s because the bags and wraps have to be clean and dry to be recycled, and collecting them in curbside bins with bottles and containers generally leaves them too dirty and wet to be recycled. Additionally, bags and films can jam sorting machinery, creating problems for the businesses that sort recyclables.

However, in our area, many retailers have plastic bag recycling receptacles in their entry or lobby areas and these are NOT limited to grocery bags.  They accept ALL recyclable plastic bags.  This has been confirmed by calling the stores in our area including Grosse Ile Kroger, Meijer, Target, Wal-Mart, and Lowe’s.

Preparation:

• Remove receipts, crumbs, labels, tape, and adhesive strips
• Make sure bags are clean and dry

Please recycle the following:

• Retail, Newspaper, Dry Cleaning, Bread, Produce, and also other Plastic Bags labeled #2 and #4
• Zip Close Food Storage bags (clean and dry)
• Furniture and Electronic wrap
• Plastic cereal box liners (if it tears like paper do not include)
• Plastic shipping envelopes, including Tyvek, bubble wrap and air pillows (Remove labels and/or deflate)
• Any plastic bag with the label: “How2Recycle”
• If plastic film stretches when you pull it with your fingers, you can recycle it
• Colored plastic is OK

The following items are NOT acceptable:

• Frozen food or pre-washed salad bags (these bags contain a barrier layer to help protect the food and extend shelf life which is not acceptable for recycling)
• Candy wrappers or chip bags (or any such bags that crinkle loudly when mashed in your hand)
• Thicker or stiff plastic like pet food bags or bedding bags (or anything with a zipper)
• If it tears like paper, it is NOT OK.
• Bags marked degradable or bio-degradable (these will degrade over time so cannot be recycled)

REMINDER: You can also donate your plastic grocery bags to the mat makers at Sacred Heart.

NOTE: More information on plastic bag recycling can be found online at www.plasticbagrecycling.org.