A BENEFIT OF GEORGIA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT’S ZERO-WASTE PROGRAM
ZERO-WASTE RESOURCES
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CONGREGATIONS
Complete Zero-Waste Resource Guide
All communities of faith generate waste. From their worship or prayer services, classes, food preparation, office administration, and other activities, this waste may include paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, electronics, cleaning supplies, food waste, and a wide range of other products. This guide provides tools, educational resources, and strategies to help individuals and congregations better understand their waste streams and rethink their waste practices. It is our hope that members of the congregation also use this information to bring waste-reduction strategies home.
Social Media Toolkit
This Zero-Waste program social media toolkit provides graphics and text to support the rollout of new waste practices within your congregation. The more a faith community promotes sustainable waste management practices the more engrained it becomes in the life of the congregation.
Printable Waste Signage
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Recycling Sign
8.5” x 11”
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Landfill Sign
8.5” x 11”
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Onsite Compost Sign
8.5” x 11”
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Commercial Compost Sign
8.5” x 11”
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Paper Towels Compost Sign
8.5” x 11”
SMARTPRESS
SMARTPRESS
Want to print waste management signs professionally but are worried about sustainability?
Check out Smartpress! They are an employee-owned digital printer based in the United States and have been 100% carbon neutral since 2020. They also have a wide variety of eco-friendly material options to print on, including recycled paper, and plant-based and sustainably-managed materials. They have also earned platinum status from EcoVadis, a 14001 Environmental Certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and are an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partner.
Learn more at smartpress.com/pages/social-responsibility.
Purchasing Resources
RECYCLING BINS
Single Bins - $25-$50
Lavex Janitorial 16 Gallon Blue Slim Rectangular Recycle Bin with Bottle / Can Lid
Lavex Janitorial 23 Gallon Blue Square Recycle Bin with Swing Lid
Lavex Janitorial 23 Gallon Blue Square Recycle Bin with Bottle / Can Lid
Lavex Janitorial 32 Gallon Blue Round Commercial Recycling Can with Bottle Lid and Dolly
Rubbermaid Roughneck 45 Gal. Vented Blue Wheeled Recycling Trash Container
Single Bins - $50-$100
Carlisle 841044REC14 Bronco 44 Gallon Blue Round Recycling Trash Can
Rubbermaid Slim Jim 92 Qt. / 23 Gallon Blue Rectangular Recycling Container with Blue 2 Hole Lid
Rubbermaid FG9W2773BLUE BRUTE 50 Gallon Blue Wheeled Round Recycling Bin with Lid
Carlisle 44 Gallon Blue Round Recycling Trash Can, Lid, and Dolly Kit
Outdoor Bins - $100+
Lavex Janitorial 32 Gallon Blue Wheeled Rectangular Recycle Bin with Lid,
Lavex Janitorial 64 Gallon Blue Wheeled Rectangular Recycle Bin with Lid,
Lavex Janitorial 95 Gallon Blue Wheeled Rectangular Recycle Bin with Lid
Prism Outdoor 36-Gallon Recycling Receptacle in Blue
Recycle Bin I The Original 48-Gallon Recycling Container
Combo Outdoor Bins
COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING
Organizations are provided with roll carts to collect compostables generated on-site. Most typical is having one or two roll carts serviced once per week. On each service day, the roll carts are swapped out with ones that have been cleaned and washed at our facilities to help ensure cleanliness and a reduction in potential odors. The carts are rodent-proof. The materials are sent to a local commercial composting facility. CompostNow also provides compost free of charge to partnering urban farms and community gardens in the area. The typical cost is around $200 per month for the base set of options.
This company has an organics recycling program that helps organizations achieve zero-waste goals by composting pre-consumer and post-consumer foods. They will provide bins, help with training and education, and haul compostable materials. They will ensure that materials are separated properly and that everything they pick up meets the minimum acceptable contamination level.
(Only available for congregations inside the perimeter but may be expanding)
RECYCLE THE HARD-TO-RECYCLE
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) facility is a premier program of the nonprofit, Live Thrive. It is a permanent drop-off facility that aims to improve our environmental health by encouraging reuse and diverting thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste and other hard-to-recycle items from Metro-Atlanta landfills and water systems. CHaRM also accepts sorted single-stream items for those who do not have access. All operations expenses for CHaRM are paid from grants, donations, and recycling fees. Learn more HERE.
Ridwell is a for-profit, subscription-based company that helps neighborhoods recycle the hard-to-recycle. Through an accessible collection bin system, they collect plastic film (bubble wrap, ziploc bags, air pillows, blue & white Amazon mailers, plastic grocery bags), multi-layer plastics (food bags, frozen food bags, granola and energy bar wrappers, chip bags), threads, light bulbs, and batteries. Sign up using GIPL’s affiliate link HERE and get one-month free today.
(Only available for congregations inside the Atlanta perimeter but may be expanding)