A Small Community Making an Impact to Save the Planet

Have you been bombarded with advertisement and news stories about the desperate shape our planet is in and thought to yourself. "I'm only one person. I can't even put a dent in what needs to be done to make things better? With all of the media coverage on issues like acid rain, loss of the rain forests, endangered species, and the depleting ozone layer.  It is an easy thing to feel over-whelmed on this great space.  But the reality is this;  if not you, then who?

As an individual you can't control factories pouring toxins into water ways or prevent oil leaks that endangered some species, but we all can make a big impact if we work together.   As a matter of fact, some of the people from my community have been taking this important issue very seriously.  Presently,  schools, Churches, Fire Departments and Residents are implementing some simple strategies to save the planet. 


For instance, there is a guy who moved from Vermont where he learned most of his recycling routine.  He says, "I've been recycling most of my life, so it sort of comes as second nature." He recycles all the paper, cardboard, box-board, plastic, metal and glass.  Every weekend,  he takes a trip to the recycling station.  His green tip would be to stop purchasing bottled water instead fill it at the tap. The reusable container not only uses less plastic, but it would also help to cut some environmental costs associated with driving water all over the country.

Meanwhile, Prince William Schools been recycling for two years now by going to single-stream-recycling. Which means that a person throwing away a can, piece of plastic, paper or whatever doesn't have to sort by type and deposit the items into separate containers.  The separating is done by machine at collection facilities. Making things much easier when it's time to do "the green thing" as they call it.  They take recycling very seriously, in fact, they have set goals to reduce paper consumption by 50% within five years.  Some of the schools have already met that goal this year, two-year ahead of schedule.

Some Fire Rescue Departments have also tried to get themselves involved in doing 'the green thing' to save energy. They have been switching to compact fluorescent lighting. They have been installing motion detectors in the bathroom, so lights don't stay on when someone is not there.  Heat-saving controllers are being installed on the furnaces, and they have upgraded their insulation where needed.

Manassas Church of the Brethren 'is a green church' coming with some creative ways to go green.  They have been recycling all the paper used from copy paper to bulletins.  No paper products other than napkins are used for meals in the Fellow-Ship Center.  The Church's coffee is free trade and organic, and their trash is set up for composting.  In fact, this church made a formal congregational commitment to go green more than 10 years ago.

"There is a lot more to be to be done", says Kelly Rice, administrative coordinator from the office of facility services in Prince William County. 

We've been careless up to this point with the way we've treated the Earth, and it's time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think.  We can all be part of this 'green movement'.


To learn more about Reuse, Reduce and Recycle CLICK HERE