Prayer

Most blessed holy Trinity, Creator, Savior and Ruah,

Through Your Word of life. All was and is created, All was redeemed and is called to
redemption,
All was united in Your bosom of love and is called to live in communion.
Because of You, dear Trinity, All of creation is a constant exercise of listening to Your Word so that we can embody the Word in our own lives.

Teach us, therefore, how to truly listen to Your creating and creative Word. Remind us that
Your Word is present and can be heard in each living being.
May we listen and learn from Your message present throughout nature.
Open our ears and our hearts and teach us strength and courage so that we may hear the pain and suffering of our sister mother earth and of those most affected by the socio-environmental crisis.
Amen.

Suzana Moreira, Laudato Si’ Animator,
Coordinator of Eco-Conversion
Programs at LSM. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
From the Laudato Si’ Movement Prayer Book

Knowledge

Sometimes inspiration for a topic comes from out of the blue. In this case of this week’s topic, a four year old re-shared Facebook post from Cincinnati recycles. It surprised me to hear that not everyone knows that you can recycle plastic film at grocery and other stores. Most have a drop off bin as you walk in the door. This is the Bag2Bag Program.

Credit: plasticfilmrecycling.org

You can recycle:

• Plastic retail and produce bags
• Bread bags
• Newspaper and ad Bags
• Dry cleaning bags
• Cereal box liners
• Paper towel and toilet paper wrap
• Over wrap on cases of soda, water or canned vegetables
• Sealed air pouches in mailed packages
• All zipper style bags— remove zippers prior to recycling

Locally you can drop these items, clean AND dry at most Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Lowes, Whole Foods, and Target stores. It’s a good idea to contact the store first if you are bringing in a large amount. Check area stores to see if they have this program in your area. The materials collected will become more plastic bags or, they are used to create durable building material, like decking.
Materials collected at Target and Meijer may differ slightly from items accepted through the other programs. Remember, it’s always best to reduce your use of any of these items. But, when you have them, please recycle them.

Action

Not much to say in the Action column except: DO IT. I know it takes an extra few steps to wash that messy zipper storage bag, or make sure all the bread crumbs are out of the bread bag. And, for some, finding space in a small kitchen for yet another receptacle is a challenge. But, keeping these materials out of our waterways is worth the time and effort.