CIRCLE OF CREATION COMMITTEE’S
GREEN CORNER
The St. Francis Xavier College Church Circle of Creation Committee (CCC) has been working for a number of years to provide educational opportunities for the parish to learn about and act in the interest of environmental justice.
The Circle of Creation Committee meets on the 4th Sunday of each month (except July and December) from 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM, in the Adult Faith Room on the 1st floor of the Parish Center. All are welcome, even if just curious!
If you would like to join the Circle of Creation Committee, or if you would like to bring to the attention of the Circle of Creation Committee information and/or events related to environmental justice, please feel free to email fran@drfransmathstronglab.com.
Of Timely Interest
Reducing Waste and Recycling during the Holiday Season
“A Sustainable Holiday Season” features suggestions from the Office of Campus Sustainability of the Catholic University of America.
St. Louis City Recycles offers information on “How to Reduce Waste and Recycle During the Holidays.” For St. Louis County’s Holiday Recycling Guide, just search that phrase.
Both of these sites also give City and County residents, respectively, information concerning the recycling of Christmas Trees and Holiday Lights.
Don’t send your pumpkins to landfill.
(Why not? Pumpkins in the landfill increase methane production, and methane is a major contributor to climate change.) Earthday365 is making it easy for you to keep pumpkins out of our area landfills by bringing them to their office at 4125 Humphrey St. or to North Newstead Association at 4601 Pope Ave. through December 6, 2024 for composting! Remove any stickers, paint, or wax. For more information about keeping pumpkins out of landfills, go to earthday-365.org/pumpkin-composting/.
Service Opportunities
Great Rivers Greenways sponsors Environmental Stewardship actions. [greatriversgreenway.org/volunteer]
Earthday365 cosponsors Environmental Justice Days of Action in cooperation with various organizations. [earthday-365.org/environmental-justice-days-of-action]
For service opportunities through the Open Space Council, consider the ones on their Volunteer page. [volunteer.openspacestl.org/need]
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri [moreleaf.org] has opportunities for planting and caring for trees throughout the metro area. Click on Get Involved and then choose Volunteer.
Senior citizens 60 and over may want to consider the work of Third Act which is a national effort to organize older Americans to help protect our climate and safeguard our democracy. We’re stepping up and using our strengths as a generation to get to work taking collective action for progressive change, building a skilled, joyful, committed base of volunteers along the way.
Lights Out for Birds
Lights Out to Save Birds Spring migration is March 1 through June 15 and Fall migration is August 15 through November 30.
Consider these Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds.
Lights Out to Save Birds by Stephanie Todd (reprinted from the newsletter of Eastern Missouri Group of the Sierra Club [sierraclub.org/missouri/eastern-missouri]
Every year millions of birds die during migration due to artificial lights. Most birds migrate at night to save energy and avoid predators, using the moon and stars to navigate. Artificial lights disorient birds and cause them to circle lights until they die from exhaustion or hit something, like a building. St. Louis is the 5th deadliest city for birds during spring migration and 6th for fall Migration. You can help save birds! Turn-out outdoor lights during peak migration periods, September and May. If you must have lights on, you can mitigate their detrimental effects by shielding them so they do not shine up into the sky and turn them off by 11:00 pm. Also, putting lights on timers is much more effective for preventing crime and is also better for the environment. The Missouri Sierra Club is a partner in Lights Out Heartland.
Recycling of All Sorts of Things
We have access to a subscription through TerraCycle® for free recycling of used dental hygiene items, e.g., used toothbrushes both manual and electric, toothpaste tubes, dental floss containers, etc. There are blue recycling bins with a sign affixed indicating the recycling of used dental hygiene items in the following areas: the Adult Faith Room in the Parish Center, the Parish Library (also the Classroom for YFF [Youth Faith Formation] 9- to 12-year-olds) directly below the Adult Faith Room, the lobby area going into the Classrooms for YFF for 3- to 7-year-olds on the lower level below the Sacristy, the YFF 7th- and 8th- Grade Classrooms in the Davis-Shaughnessy Hall, and the Choir Cubbies room off the Church Sacristy.
The Magic House [magichouse.org] has a sign in their building saying the following: HELP US STOCK OUR MAKERSPACE WITH RECYCLED ITEMS. (All items must be clean and safe for children to use.) We accept these items: paper towel rolls, plastic caps, plastic containers, egg cartons, ribbon, flattened cereal boxes, wrapping paper tubes. Items can be dropped off either at The Magic House Member Entrance or Lower level desk at The Magic House @ MADE.
You may be familiar with the brown collection containers at many of our local grocery stores. NexTrex is the company that recycles some kinds of plastic bags and plastic film into composite decks. You can view the specific information on NexTrex concerning what types of plastic bags and plastic film can and cannot be recycled. Their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are also quite helpful. It is critical that such plastic bags and plastic film do NOT contaminate the contents of the blue recycling bins in the City of St. Louis and recycling collection containers in the various suburbs but rather go into the NexTrex brown bins at local retail stores.
Earthbound Recycling in Eureka, MO recycles all sorts of things. There is a charge for some types of items. You can get paid for copper and some other types of metal, but then you need to bring a photo ID with your current address.
St. Louis Household Hazardous Waste has two locations, one south in the 63125 area and another north in 63033. Appointments are needed and sometimes fees apply.
A recorded message on Foam Products Corp. phone (314) 739-8100 said that they were no longer accepting recycled (foam) products until further notice.
Channel 5 KSDK Investigative Team reports “Whistleblowers Say St. Louis City’s Recycling Failures Undermine Residents’ Efforts.”
People can recycle glass via Ripple Glass [rippleglass.com/stl/]. Accepted items are glass food and beverage containers (all colors, labels can stay on), cosmetic bottles and jars; candle jars (leftover wax is OK). The website also makes clear what types of glass are not acceptable and indicates specifically where the Purple Bins for Ripple Glass are located in the St. Louis metro area.
Mary Mother of the Church has ongoing metal recycling. Items to be recycled include the following: Kitchen items: Utensils, pots and pans, blenders, mixers, toasters, coffee makers, microwaves; Metal items: Metal siding and shelving, bar BQ pits, lawn mowers, fans, dehumidifiers, chain saws, car parts, metal tools and lawn furniture; General appliances: Washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, AC units and furnaces. All items that are mostly metal can be recycled. Non-metal furniture, tires, and TVs cannot be accepted. Items can be dropped off at 5833 Kerth Road, 63128 at any time. All proceeds are donated to St. Vincent DePaul neighbors in need of support. If you have questions, call Dick at 314-374-4680.
Recycling of textiles (clothing, shoes, toy stuffed animals) at REMAINS was featured on May 13, 2024 on “Living St.Louis” on PBS Channel 9 starting just after 8 minutes.
The Missouri Botanical Garden provides information Plastic Pot Recycling Discontinued in St. Louis [missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/gardening-in-st-louis/plastic-pot-recycling] and more on plastic recycling in general. However, Home Depot and other stores with gardening departments may be continuing to recycle plastic pots.
Ladue News June 5, 2024 edition had a helpful article by Charlotte Renner “Where to Donate Used Sports Gear in St. Louis.”
The Wine Cellar Outlet Sappington Plaza 11553 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63126 collects natural corks only (no synthetics). You can drop them off with an employee just inside the doors anytime during store hours.
Are you overwhelmed by paper junk mail and wish you could make it stop? Junk mail is a huge waste of our natural resources and our time. Sign up for Catalog Choice [catalogchoice.org] and start reducing your junk mail today!
Nordstrom stores (both the store at the Galleria and the one in Manchester) have a bin in the cosmetics department for recycling empty cosmetics/personal care containers (lipstick/lip balm tubes, pans from eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tubes, moisturizers or lotion tubes, powder compacts). There are some items that are not accepted: electronics, containers from nail products (such as nail polish, polish remover), and empty aerosol containers.
A recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides information about reuse stores:
“Buttons, corks and paper-towel tubes: Discards find new life at St. Louis reuse stores” [stltoday.com/life-entertainment/buttons-corks-and-paper-towel-tubes-discards-find-new-life-at-st-louis-reuse-stores/article_83319160-8595-5afa-96d2-0f382e62be96.html]
For locations and what is accepted, consult their respective websites:
Leftovers, Etc. [leftoversetc.com]
St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center [sltrc.com]
STL Teachers Trading Post [stlteachertradingpost.com/St._Louis_Teacher_Trading_Post/Welcome.html]
Upcoming Electronics Recycling Events
Community Electronics Recycling Events conducted by Midwest Recycling Center (MRC)
January 18, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
359 Old Meramec Station Road
Manchester, MO, 63021
hosted by City of Manchester
March 1, 8:00 AM to Noon
2505 South Brentwood Boulevard
Brentwood, MO, 63144
hosted by the City of Brentwood
Eating Less Meat
Abstaining from eating meat on Fridays is our practice during Lent. Eating less meat can be a moderate sacrifice that significantly benefits our Earth and all her children. Our home planet is a life-sustaining gift from our gracious God. After Easter we can choose to continue abstaining from meat once a week or maybe a second day each week, or even more. For information on how eating less meat has an important environmental impact, please see The Diet that Helps Fight Climate Change. [facebook.com/watch/?v=1737570466430548]
Pope Francis latest letter on Climate
All people of good will can read this for free.
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS TO ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
Minimizing Trash at Parish Events
Please do NOT bring Styrofoam to St. Francis Xavier College Church.
Parishioners and guests are heartily encouraged to wear reusable name tags. For those who don’t have one, Fran would be delighted to give you a magnetic reusable name tag (not for people who have a pacemaker).
Parishioners and guests are also heartily encouraged to bring their Reusable Beverage Containers (RBCs). However, there will be available both glasses and mugs for cold and hot drinks, respectively. [Your Reusable Beverage Container need not match your shirt.]
Initial Results from Air Quality Monitor on SFX Parish Center Roof and on other City Locations are provided in this YouTube video. [youtube.com/watch?v=9hF-P8Sb3D8]
Educational films/videos, recordings, and articles regarding environmental issues and climate change
PLASTICS
“Think that your plastic is being recycled? Think again.” is a highly informative article by Douglas Main published in the MIT Technology Review on October 12, 2023.
Deia Schlosburg, an alumna of Washington University, directed and produced a 2-hr documentary, available free, The Story of Plastic, [storyofstuff.org/movies/the-story-of-plastic-documentary-film]
EcoWatch provides a very informative recent article Ocean Plastic: What You Need to Know [ecowatch.com/ocean-plastic-guide-2653277768.html] including a variety of legislative efforts that need to be made as well as personal efforts that can be made.
Tune in to the Solving Plastic series on YouTube [youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CqmRXtwce-Dtp42ygnIZqhPfYieVQgs] to learn how we can end the plastic pollution crisis for real!
“How Do Microplastics Affect Oceans & Marine Life?” written by Neville Chamunorwa [lastobject.com/blogs/sustainability-101/how-do-microplastics-affect-oceans-marine-life]
”How to (Really) Bid Good Riddance to Plastic” [sierraclub.org/sierra/2022-1-spring/material-world/how-really-bid-good-riddance-plastic]
VIDEOS, AUDIOS
Protecting the Earth: An Environmental, Economic, and Moral Challenge was a well-received and timely presentation on October 6, 2019 at St. Francis Xavier College Church Ballroom by Dr. Peter H. Raven https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_H._Raven who generously allows the audio recording to be available at this link: Dr Peter Raven
BOOK SUGGESTIONS
Mapping a New Geography of Hope: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Keynote, July 27, 2015, a bit old, but so timely. Length: 27 minutes
You may also find worthwhile, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants available from Milkweed Editions and from the St. Louis County Library (which holders of St. Louis Public Library cards may also access).
Resources
Green Resources Info Service and FAQs
at Missouri Botanical Garden
has information on recycling and related questions. The website has frequently asked questions, as well as an email address and a phone number to ask other questions.
Environmental Justice Resources
are available from the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
was composed by Pope Francis and included in his encyclical Laudato Si’.
The Catholic Climate Covenant has additional inspiration and resources.
Missouri Interfaith Power and Light
emphasizes the connection between faith and the environment.
has as its mission to “inspire and mobilize a collaborative movement towards an equitable and environmentally sustainable St. Louis region – every day.” They also provide the restaurant sustainability certification program known as The Green Dining Alliance (GDA).
There you can find a list of local restaurants and their GDA ratings and practices.
Environmental Racism in St. Louis
The report Environmental Racism in St. Louis is explained and this site provides a link to the full report.
The Blessing of the Animals
The St. Francis Xavier College Church Circle of Creation Committee sponsored its Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Ellen Clark Sculpture Park (aka the Dog Park) at the NE corner of Grand & Lindell.
Whether you participated in the Blessing of the Animals or not, you may want to consider sending donations to organizations working to rehabilitate laboratory animals, prevent extinction of species, rescue stray animals, and preserve the environment for wildlife.
sanctuaryfederation.org/find-a%20sanctuary/?animal=any&region=NA&state=MO
Recycling in Parish Facilities
We truly appreciate how eager our parishioners are to cooperate in the recycling efforts at our parish events, especially in the Ballroom. Below are a few reminders and/or updates:
1. Napkins and paper towels are NOT recyclable and should be placed in the Trash/Landfill bin.
2. NO LIQUIDS in Trash/Landfill or Single-Stream Recycling bins.
3. Gently empty any liquid/ice into the blue bucket by the sign indicating "Liquids here.”
4. Single-Stream Recycling at SFX accepts Plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, but NO Black Plastic.
5. If you are unsure of where to dispose of an item, be sure to read the available signs and/or ask the Recycling Guide, usually wearing a green apron.
