{"id":10720,"date":"2025-04-22T05:42:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T05:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/naturessacredjourney\/?p=10720"},"modified":"2025-04-22T05:42:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T05:42:33","slug":"earth-day-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/naturessacredjourney\/2025\/04\/earth-day-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot (compost) and recycle\/upcycle?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"compost\"
Earth in hand PHOTO BY PX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Yes, that is right, rot \u2014 compost. It\u2019s now the five \u201cr\u201ds no longer three. And that word\u00a0 rot is just as important as the rest. Some say there are now six of them adding rethink to the phrase. However, you remember it, please do everything you can to help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recycling is now seen a s not as important bumping it to the bottom of the list. Sure, do it anyway when there is no other option. <\/span>Studies show that recycling plastics is just as harmful to the environment than not recycling at all. However, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and glass are far more efficient and less toxic.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, composting is a bigger deal. Not only does it cut the trash, it feeds the worms and good bugs. The worms in turn eat our compost and it becomes soil.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Composting at home can be as simple as digging a hole in your yard, your garden space and then dumping it and covering it up with the dirt. I add fallen leaves collected on the side of my garden area. It\u2019s good to add leaves, shredded paper, cardboard or other \u201cbrowns\u201d\u00a0 to your compost.\u00a0 Alternatively, there are many types of composters, both indoor and outdoor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Compost\"
Compost PHOTO BY STEFAN SZCZELKUN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Remember though, garden compost should only be vegetarian \u2014 vegetable and fruit discards, stale bread as well as crushed eggshells, paper such tissues and towels, even your snail mail envelopes \u2014 minus the plastic window. No oil, no dairy, no bones and no meat. Even compostable plates, bags and cups need to go elsewhere. Yes those things are compostable, but heat treated compost, not our own compost bins and gardens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, I learned that meat and bones can actually be composted in a special heat treated way. This may require a special company to do and costs some money though. A congregation in Montclair offers this service to its members for a cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the <\/span>Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair<\/span><\/a>, New Jersey we are meeting monthly to work on these subjects. Our focus groups discuss one area of these topics then meet with the whole group and discuss plans to move forward in our towns. This is where I learned how recycling plastic is not really the best idea. However, as I said before, sometimes you are stuck: you need an item but it\u2019s in a single-use plastic non-recyclable container.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So maybe it is time to reduce using single-use plastic items and upcycling. A simple example of upcycling is using an old tire as a swing, or planter. Another is using cut drink bottles to start your plants. So many things are upcyclable. This is just the beginning. Its only the tip of the iceberg.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for repair, there is a group of people who will offer their services for a small cost or free. In Glen Ridge, New Jersey, residents get their items repaired for free. The items list includes small appliances, household electronics, lamps, sewing equipment and knife sharpening. Not a bad service especially if it includes surrounding towns. So many repairable broken items go into landfills instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s change that right now, we can easily start this on our own. Find people who have these skills, and ask them if they wouldn\u2019t mind volunteering their services. Try it for once a year and maybe add another day, until you get to run it quarterly with ease. It will surprise you at how many people have these skills and are willing to volunteer their services. Additionally, it may shock you at how many people need these services. These people might hold onto their items a bit longer the next time their items break. This, in turn, cuts down on landfill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m so glad that supermarkets no longer give out single-use plastic bags here in NJ anyway. Now I\u2019m hearing about the return of paper bags. While in one way it\u2019s better than plastic bags. Paper bags won\u2019t float\u00a0 in our rivers and streams. However, let\u2019s think about what goes into making these bags. Are they using new or recycled paper and will they be properly recycled. Even better is using cloth or other reusable bags. It says on the bag to use 100 times. I wash mine every time they look a bit grimy or I know something leaked on them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"compost\"
Pink Striped Paper Straws PHOTO BY GEMMA MORGAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And please any chance you get, use a paper straw or better yet carry your own metal one. I know that this idea of paper straws our current President frowns upon, but they do help the environment. Let\u2019s not add another thing a small animal can accidentally eat to the landfill. A documentary was filmed showing all our litter that small creatures consume contributing to their death. Bottle caps, paper clips, those plastic bag ties for bread, and the list goes on. One of many documentaries is <\/span>The Plastic Problem \u2013 A PBS NewsHour Documentary<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

So this Earth Day, April 22, as we celebrate its 55th anniversary, think of ways to help Mother Earth. Share your ideas with friends and family. Create your own group and bring these ideas to your local township or city meetings. It seems like a little bit but trust me it will expand. Your efforts will show not quickly but soon enough.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See also: <\/span>Earth Day: from plastic to compost \u2014 take care of our Mother<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Earth Day 2023 \u2014 plant a tree, plant a seed and your intentions too<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Earth Day 2022: 52 years of awareness \u2013 let\u2019s continue the effort\u2026<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yes, that is right, rot \u2014 compost. It\u2019s now the five \u201cr\u201ds no longer three. And that word\u00a0 rot is just as important as the rest. Some say there are now six of them adding rethink to the phrase. However, you remember it, please do everything you can to help. Recycling is now seen a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4409,"featured_media":10723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[230,1319],"tags":[101,1490],"class_list":["post-10720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seasonal-reflection","category-spiritual-practice","tag-earth-day","tag-unitarian-universalist-congregation-at-montclair"],"yoast_head":"\nEarth Day 2025: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot and recycle\/upcycle?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yes, that is right, rot \u2014 compost. It's now the five \u201cr\u201ds no longer three. 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