Recycling advice from a Creation Care Ministry team member

By Natalie Hoefer

In caring for the environment, knowing what, where and how to recycle can be overwhelming. Benedictine Sister Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, a founding and current member of the archdiocese’s Creation Care Ministry, recently shared the following tips with The Criterion.

Decide ‘to learn a little bit more’

“With recycling, I think a lot of it comes down to knowing what is recyclable and where you can go to recycle. So, it’s deciding to learn a little bit more, to do a little legwork to find out what’s the best way to do it, then do it the best you can. Before you throw it away, ask, ‘Can I recycle this?’ ”

Recycling services

“If people choose to pay into a service, then certainly work with the provider to understand what they pick up.

“Some communities have their own recycling through the city. And so it’s working with the city to learn what can and can’t be recycled through their service.”

Local recycling

“If you decide to recycle on your own rather than through a service or if no service is available, search the internet for ‘recycling locations in,’ then put your town or city. Go to those sites to find out what they accept.

“You can also search online for local places that recycle specific things like cardboard, paper, electronics or other things that might be a little out of the ordinary.

“Also, there is a lot of information [on the internet] about what is recyclable in general.”

Taking the extra step

“Another way you can help the environment is to try just using less. Or instead of throwing something away, I ask myself the question, ‘Can I compost it?’

“Part of caring for creation is choosing to be inconvenienced. It’s making that choice to say, ‘I’m going to take the extra step.’ ” †

The Criterion