Are You Seeing Green?

** Speech given at Toastmasters.
Green with envy.  Saint Patrick’s Day green.  The TV show Green Acres.  What images do these conjure in your mind?  May I suggest green for nature and the environment?  Stewardship of our spiritual and earthly resources is a biblical principle.  Throughout the material discussed, my goal is to challenge each of you to live a greener, more eco-friendly lifestyle while acting as a better steward of the world surrounding us.  In Genesis 1:26, the Creation Story reveals God at work.  The Scripture reads, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”  Jesus in His Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:29 states, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”  Stewardship of what we are given has its rewards and consequences.  Living a “green” lifestyle of stewardship is easy.  Follow me on this journey as I highlight three things a person can perform without ever leaving their residence or neighborhood.

Recycling, what is it?  Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new, useful products.  This is done to reduce the use of raw materials that would have been used.  Recycling also uses less energy and is a great way of controlling air, water, and land pollution.  The company Waste Management has a great website discussing the various aspects of recycling.  I was amazed at what all could be recycled: batteries, light bulbs, corrugated cardboard, electronics, glass, aluminum or tin, paper, and plastic.  Years ago, when I first began getting in to recycling, the different types of waste which could be recycled was limited.  Now the number of recycling options have increased.  The benefits of recycling far outweigh the amount of effort invested in the collection and delivering of the items to a place of recycling.  A few of the benefits are: reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators; reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change; and helps sustain the environment for future generations.  Effective recycling begins at home.  The City of Fort Worth provides recycle bins for each residence.  Usage fees for the bin are incorporated in the water bill regardless of whether or not you physically have or use the bin at your residence.  On the other hand, I live in an apartment complex that does not offer recycling services.  To remedy this situation, I have a box for recyclables on the front porch.  Twice a week I dispose of the recyclables in a recycling dumpster at a neighboring school.

Composting is another way to become a better steward of the earth’s natural resources.  What is composting?  A great definition and description of composting comes from the San Mateo County, California Recycle Works website.  It reads, “Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue.  There are three types of composting: backyard composting, worm composting, and grasscycling.”  Grass clippings, left-over food, and most types of tree leaves can be composted.  The benefits of composting are numerous.  Here are a few examples: a significant reduction of pest problems and the use of pesticides; increases moisture retention in soil and amends sandy and clay soil; and decreases by 30% the amount of waste reaching our landfill, waterways, and water treatment facilities.”  There are many websites and books offering tips and “How-To” knowledge on the methods of composting.  Many DIY retailers offer composting bins for retail sale.

Finally, acting as a steward of nature includes picking up trash around our home and neighborhood.  Once a week I pick up trash around the apartment and dispose of it properly.  When possible, I separate the recyclable items in to a different container to dispose of them in a local recycling bin.  Taking pride in the neighborhood by picking up trash is easy and requires a minimal expense of time and money.  Plastic gloves and an extended litter grabber are a must.  Twice a year the Keep Fort Worth Beautiful agency (www.fortworthtexas.gov/kfwb) sponsors city-wide litter stomp events, as well as an Earth Day event in the spring.  The agency also provides yearly events for electronic recycling, expired medication disposal, and composting classes.  The company Waste Management (www.wm.com) also performs a great community service in raising awareness on recycling and living a greener lifestyle.

        By now I hope you have been persuaded to re-think your lifestyle and behavior by desiring to live a more eco-friendly life.  Living such a life is not limited to the three points mentioned above, but I do believe those items make for a great foundation and start for a greener lifestyle.  Are you seeing green?