ZERO-WASTE PROGRAM
13
ZERO-WASTE AUDITS COMPLETED
11,620
POUNDS OF WASTE DIVERTED TO COMPOST
13
COMPOSTING CONGREGATIONS
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light’s Zero-Waste program is designed to help communities of faith implement practical solutions to reduce waste on-site. All communities of faith generate waste from their worship, prayer services, classes, holiday celebrations, meals and events, and other activities. This program provides tools, resources, and strategies to help congregations rethink their waste practices.
Helping Faith Communities Reduce Their Waste!
The amount of waste that we generate globally has detrimental effects on the environment and on our neighbors and communities. Drawdown Georgia has identified recycling and waste management, composting, and reducing food waste as three of the 20 high-impact solutions for reducing carbon emissions in Georgia. Through this program, GIPL staff will help congregations address two primary problems: food waste and plastics.
The United States discards 133 billion pounds of food per year. When food, and other organic matter, decompose in the landfill it produces methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Single-use plastics are created from fossil fuels. Harmful greenhouse gases are emitted in every stage of the extraction and plastic production process. Diverting waste from landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions and prevents products from polluting our oceans and waterways. Strategies such as composting, eliminating single-use plastics, and reducing the use of disposable products are important ways faith communities can substantially lower their environmental impact.
Go Plastic Free!
Plastics are one of the greatest waste challenges we face. The production of plastic materials contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and many plastics cannot be easily recycled. Reducing our consumption of plastics is an effective way to decrease the negative impacts of plastic production and pollution in our environment.
For these reasons, we invite your congregation to sign Georgia Interfaith Power & Light’s Plastic-Free Pledge and commit to reducing plastic materials in your buildings, at meals and events, and in the community.
As part of this program, GIPL staff will conduct zero-waste audits at large congregational events or meals to measure the amount of compostables, recyclables, and landfill waste produced and suggest strategies for reducing waste in each area.
One Zero-Waste audit at a meal/event and a customized audit report with waste diversion measurements and recommendations for improvements.
Assistance launching a composting program, customized signage, and education.
Strategies for reducing plastic consumption and signing a plastic-free pledge.
Assistance in developing a sustainability policy.
Resources about organizations to partner with for recycling and composting.
Access to recycling tours of your local material recovery facility.
Synagogues, mosques, churches, temples, religious schools, and other worship facilities are eligible to participate in this program! If you have any questions about enrolling in the Zero-Waste program, please contact Meagan Williams.
The fee to enroll in the Zero-Waste program is $100 per event. Request an audit below today!