“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Gen 1:31)

The YPC Caring for Creation Committee is dedicated to the care of the earth and all creation formed by God.

Energy Conservation—using less energy to preserve limited resources

Recycling—reducing landfill and reusing limited resources

Fair Trade—providing a decent living to farmers in third-world countries (it's an issue of justice)

Food waste—reducing or eliminating leftover food at YPC events

The committee is always looking for new people and new ideas. We meet once a month on the first Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Sit in at a meeting (just to see what we do, no commitment), or contact Pastor Beth Freese Dammers.

For 2010, we are working on four projects.

1. Energy Audit / Electric Conservation—we are looking for ways to reduce YPC's electric consumption and to use less energy wherever possible.
2. Food Waste—we are trying to eliminate waste (throwing away food) after church functions. We remind people to take home all leftovers, except items that are used by the same group each week (such as soda or condiments). Otherwise, food sits in the refrigerators (because no one wants to take someone else's food) until it goes bad and is thrown out.
3. Link Eco-Justice to the fall Journey to Discipleship—if anyone has a discipleship goal such as being a better steward of the earth or to live more "green", we wish to encourage and help you (and you encourage and help us as well!).
4. Elminate Paper Cups / Plates—we would like to use real (non-disposable) cups/glasses and plates whenever and wherever possible.

Following are some of the projects we started or already participate in.

The Presbyterian Coffee Project
For more information, visit www.pcusa.org/coffee or call 1.888.7228 x5626
We sell fair-trade products the second Sunday of the month. Items include: Coffee, tea, cocoa mix, baking cocoa, and chocolate bars.
Remember that we are selling it at cost, not for profit. Our goal is to provide a fair wage to small farmers.

Recycling Box
A recycling box is under the mailboxes in the North entrance. Please recycle your old batteries, and ink jet and toner cartridges.

Equipment Recycling
Unitec Recycling Corp.
320 S Cornell Ave
(corner of Cornell Ave and E Park Blvd (on the south side of the Prairie Path)
www.unitecrecyclingcorp.com
(630) 279-5750.
If they can't make the equipment reusable, they break it down and remove valuable components (e.g., copper wire, etc.) and sell them. They also take things like old cell phones and chargers, and probably audio and video equipment. It doesn't hurt to take anything electronic to them; if they accept it, it will be one less thing in a landfill.