Ready to Go Green? Your Guide to Battery Recycling and Food Composting at CGS

Did you know that CGS has two ongoing Green Initiatives that offer simple, impactful ways for you to contribute to a healthier community? The Green Team is working hard to reduce waste and increase safety—and you can track our collective success every month!

Here is a look at two Green Team programs and how you can get involved.

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🔋 Battery Collection: Protecting Workers and Preventing Fires

When batteries are tossed into regular recycling or trash, they pose a significant risk. During the  recent Green Team tour of the local recycling center, we learned that workers face weekly fires caused by batteries improperly thrown away. This is a serious hazard for those handling our waste.

By safely disposing of batteries, we protect workers and divert toxic materials from the landfill.

• How to Get Involved: Simply drop your used batteries in the designated plastic bucket located near the Green Team bulletin board, to the right of the entry to the Parish Life Center lobby.
• What Happens Next? Batteries are collected weekly and taken to the Wake Convenience Disposal Site on Deponie Drive for proper sorting and recycling. (The bucket was supplied by Raleigh's Batteries Plus, and we recommend storing batteries in a non-metal container at room temperature.)
• Progress as of December 2025: Since November 12, 2024, CGS has successfully collected and safely disposed of 313 pounds of batteries!

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🍎 Community Composting: Diverting Food Waste from the Landfill

During our tour of the Wake County Landfill,  the Green Team discovered that nearly 25% (24.8%) of all trash going into the landfill is food waste. Composting is an easy action everyone can take to significantly reduce this number, turning food scraps into valuable nutrients for the earth instead.

We are excited to partner with The ReCollective's Community Compost Program to make CGS a convenient collection site, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable community. The ReCollective manages the pickup, transports the compost to a processing center to be ground into soil, and returns these important nutrients to the earth.

There are two primary ways you can participate in composting at CGS:

1. Home Composting Membership

• Sign Up: CGS members can join The ReCollective's Community Compost Membership. You'll receive a 4-gallon Purple Bin to collect food scraps at home. Memberships start at $3.15 per week.
• Drop-Off: Bring your filled bin to the community collection carts, located in the back parking lot at Church, at any time. The ReCollective manages the weekly or bi-weekly cart swap-out.
• Get involved: Contact Megan at [email protected] with any questions.
  
  

2. Composting at Events

• Look for Bins: At all CGS Fellowship Events, look for specially marked composting bins.
• What to Compost: Please drop your food waste, paper cups, plates, and napkins here. Everyone at CGS has a role in composting!
• Progress as December 2025: Since launching in June 2025, our community has diverted an incredible 986 pounds of food waste from the landfill!

Keep Up the Good Work! The Green Team thanks you for your efforts. Be sure to check our new monthly "Green Team Impact Tracker" to track our growing success in both battery recycling and composting!

For more information about the Green Team, please reach out to Beth Hahn or call the parish office.