Eco Church
At St Andrews Walton & Weybridge, we have just started our journey in the Eco Church scheme that is run by the Christian charity, A Rocha UK
We are working hard to achieve a Bronze Eco Church award which is the first in the award scheme – the top being Gold.
In order to achieve a bronze award, there are five areas that we have to work on and be able to answer positively to a series of questions about our actions and goals:
• Worship and teaching
• Buildings
• Land
• Community and global engagement
• Lifestyle
Eco Tips
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
Reduce the amount of Earth’s resources that you use
Water Consumption
Use vegetable water to water plants, install a water butt to water the garden
Energy usage
Turn down heating by 1 degree, turn off lights when you leave a room.
Switch to Eco Friendly Energy supplier.
Take your own lifestyle audit.
Use of the car
Walk when you can or take public transport.
Car Share scheme
Flying abroad
Research alternative ways to get abroad – drive, train….
Say no to packaging
When shopping, take your own bags and say no to any un necessary packaging
Single Use Plastic
Say no to single use plastic and take part in schemes such as Plastic Free July to experience for yourself where the problem areas are.
Meat
It causes deforestation – Farmers are clearing large areas of forestation to make space for cattle.
Greenhouse gases emitted from livestock (especially beef)
Re Use
Don’t bin it, could someone else use. There are many ways to sell on items that you no longer need and make a bit of money:
Alternatively, Charity Shops will always take your pre loved items for others to benefit from.
Use borrow schemes rather than buying new – Library of Things, Clothing Swaps.
Visit the Elmbridge Community Hub, 1 Hersham Road, Walton Upon Thames
Compost
Compost your food waste to reuse on the garden when planting
Paper
Re use paper as scrap and make sure that you print on both sides
Recycle
Could the items be made into something new?
Plastic, cardboard, paper, glass
Can all be recycled weekly or fortnightly with your local council.
Soft plastics
Can be taken to most supermarkets and recycled
Use glass containers at home for food storage.
Boxes can be turned into craft material for children.
Material from clothes, duvets can be turned into other items.
Many places will take old mobile phones, printer cartridges, make up….. to recycle.
Stamps and batteries can be donated and recycled
Refill should also be added to the R’s scheme as so many companies exist now that refill existing bottles or containers.