Go Green Team Recycled Packaging Waste at SAMA Back-to-School Fair

Daniel Na, June Na, Marcia Hornbeck, and Kim Jasper

For the twelfth year, Stockton United Methodist Go Green Team collected recyclable school supplies packaging during the annual Back-to-School Fair setup Friday morning, Aug. 1, and during the fair Saturday morning, Aug. 2. School supplies provided by the

for 595 students generate a lot of packaging waste, most of which can be recycled. This year, the volume of waste continued its downward trend in recent years thanks to Pastor Michael Tunnel ordering more supplies in bulk.

Of all the packaging waste generated, only about a 40-gallon bag could not be recycled and went to the landfill.

All of the collapsed cardboard boxes from both mornings filled an SUV plus about half a pickup bed. Go Green Team volunteers delivered it to the Stockton city recycling center.

Cheryl Marcum, Glenna Hinde, Filip Farley, and Rita Higley

They collected about 10-gallons of plastic bags, delivered to the Walmart recycling receptacle in Bolivar, just inside the store entrance.

Go Green Team volunteers set out and picked up recycling units to collect plastic beverage bottles and aluminum cans in the circle driveway and in the cafeteria. They delivered the uncapped bottles to the Stockton city recycling center and the aluminum cans to the United Methodist Men’s aluminum recycling barrels in the SUMC parking lot.

Go Green Team members recycle as a response to God dedicating humankind to tend and care for God’s good creation. Kim Jasper, Marcia Hornbeck, Pastor Daniel and June Na, Glenna Hinde, Rita Higley, Filip Farley, and Cheryl Marcum devoted their time to set this inspiring example of recycling school supplies packaging waste as an act of Christian discipleship.

The Go Green Team is part of the SUMC Creation Care Ministry. Cheryl Marcum, ministry leader advocates, “Let’s act like we are made in God’s image and choose to consume less and recycle more. When we recycle, we imitate God’s creation design.”