"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children."

~Crazy Horse

Environmental Stewardship

  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Waste Wise logo with a recycling symbol of three arrows forming a triangle.

    Minnesota Waste Wise

    Saint Anthony Park UCC used grant funds from the Biz Recycling Grant to purchase updated bins, waste collection dollies, compostable products, and training for their congregation.

    1,300 lbs. of organic waste is being diverted from the trash annually!

    Check out the entire "success story" in their Spring 2022 newsletter!

    MN Waste Wise (PDF)

  • A young girl with blonde hair wearing a gray hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and a blue striped face mask is standing at a recycling station in a school or community center. She is holding a paper plate and a yellow object, preparing to dispose of them in the recycling or trash bins. The station has three labeled sections for Organics, Recycle, and Trash.

    SAPUCC is a Green Church

    As part of our commitment to care for God’s creation and protect the environment, SAPUCC implemented a program to improve recycling and reduce waste.

    ➣ Organic materials such as food waste, paper towels, and compostable products are now recycled, reducing our volume of waste.
    ➣ Three-stream stations for sorting recyclables, organics, and waste are available in our fellowship areas and kitchens.
    ➣ Uniform labeling helps ensure proper sorting and increased recycling of items.
    ➣ Although we use dishes whenever possible, if we do use disposable products for serving food, we use compostable products which end up in the organics recycling bin.

    Most of the cost for our program was covered through a grant from BizRecycling. We added organic recycling pick up from our trash hauler, and our hauling costs have decreased! Taxes on trash are high, but there are zero taxes on recycling and organics, so when the amount of trash is reduced, hauling costs are reduced.

  • A young girl kneeling on a black cloth in a kitchen, smiling at the camera, next to a green tray filled with soil. The photo includes a close-up of her hand holding a small, curled earthworm.

    Composting Worm Bins

    As a fun and educational tool to help children understand the importance of composting as a way of caring for God's creation, the 2nd-5th grade classroom has a worm composting bin. The worm bin demonstrates an efficient way in which our food waste can be turned into soil rather than ending up in the trash. We tend to these amazing critters through weekly feedings.

  • Audience seated in a darkened church or auditorium, watching a presentation on a large screen that displays a close-up image of a dragonfly.

    Earth Day Worship Service

  • Two people working inside a room during renovation or construction, both wearing masks. One standing on a ladder by a window, giving a thumbs-up, and the other standing on the floor holding a window frame. There are signs indicating 'LOST & FOUND' and various tools and materials around them.

    Energy Efficient Windows

  • Three men in a basement or utility room looking at a red fire sprinkler system valve. One man is pointing at the valve while the other two observe.

    First tier energy audit

Other “Going Green” Practices

➣ Sunday School lessons and Adult Forums on environmental stewardship, reducing our carbon footprint, and caring for God's creation

➣ Bird seed in Easter Eggs for children’s egg hunt

➣ Compact Florescent (CFL) bulbs in nave of sanctuary

➣ Lights off throughout the building during the week except for staff offices

➣ Monthly newsletter sent via PDF E-mail attachment to reduce paper

➣ Re-upholstered 3 sofas and 2 chairs rather than buy new furniture

➣ Styrofoam free!

Learn More About Sorting, Recycling, Organics and Trash

  • Interactive webpage with a recycling truck illustration and game options for testing recycling skills, featuring buttons labeled 'Play with Trash, Recycling & Organics Recycling' and 'Play with Trash & Recycling,' surrounded by trees and navigation icons for play, resources, register, and login.

    "Know What to Throw" Interactive Sorting Game

    This is an educational game created by Waste Wise where players separate materials into their appropriate trash and recycling receptacle (you can also play with organics if that’s your jam!).

    Know What To Throw

  • A woman with glasses and long blonde hair standing in front of a large window in an office, smiling, with three recycling bins labeled Trash, Recycle, and Organics for Composting on a table in front of her.

    Recycling and Organics Training Video

    Here’s a recycling training video by Waste Wise. The seven-minute video outlines many of the same helpful tips and information they would provide in an in-person trainings.

    Recycling and Organics Video (YouTube)