You Don’t Have to Be an Environmental Superhero!

While it is true that our common home is dying, and that we are approaching a crisis point at which it may no longer be able sustain life, it is also true that you don’t have to be an environmental superhero. Change must begin somewhere, and each small step can have an enormous impact in saving our planet. Each small step can also mark a new beginning, as the Holy Spirit leads us from it to longer strides and to new small steps in other areas. The following are all good places to begin and, if you are doing one or more of them, good areas to expand into: 

1. Before throwing something into the garbage, always ask yourself whether it can be recycled, reused, or repurposed. Strive to minimize the amount of garbage that you generate.
2. Recycle everything that can be recycled. You can recycle clean glass and plastic bottles, cans, paper, non-wax paper plates and cups, and cardboard. For more information on recycling, see Waste Management’s Recycling 101.
3. You can recycle plastic bags, though not in your ordinary recycling. Instead, you can take them to your local supermarket. In some cases, you can also recycle shrink wrap and plastic from dry cleaning.
4. Become passionate about recycling. Many items that are not accepted in regular recycling bins can still be recycled. You can use Earth911 to find where you can recycle most hard-to-recycle items locally.
5. If possible, avoid the use of pesticides since they contaminate both the soil and the groundwater. If using pesticides is unavoidable, consider less toxic alternatives.
6. Avoid the use of Styrofoam, which is non-degradable and potentially lasts forever. In some areas, the use of Styrofoam is illegal.  Styrofoam isn’t accepted in ordinary recycling, but it can be recycled at the Recology Store in Bothell, which has reopened after a pandemic-related closure.
7. Compost food and yard waste. Composting replenishes the soil and reduces the quantity of waste going to landfills.
8. Do not dispose of cooking oil or motor oil in drains, sewers, or the garbage. Instead, used oil can be recycled; see the Earth911 website for information and locations.
9. There are regular recycling events throughout King County that allow you to dispose of items such as computers, appliances, tires, and paint. For more information and a schedule, see King County Recycling Collection Events.
10. Buy durable rather than disposable items. For example, a porcelain plate can potentially last for thousands of meals over a period of decades; a paper plate is only good for one use.
11. Never throw florescent lightbulbs or compact florescent light bulbs in the trash, since they contain mercury, a highly toxic element. Many large home improvement stores offer florescent lightbulb recycling. Incandescent, halogen, and LED bulbs contain no toxins but, unfortunately, are not recyclable; they still must be thrown into the trash. 

Once you’ve taken that first step, then you should also take a moment to congratulate yourself! You’ve made a small contribution to the survival of our common home. If you’ve taken a new step, you should also take a moment to congratulate yourself for becoming more committed to saving our common home. By taking more and more small steps over time as we learn more, become more aware, and depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance, we together can save our common home.