Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

At UBC we value caring for God’s creation and believe as Christians we should be leading the way in helping protect the environment that God has entrusted to us.

Genesis 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." 27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

Here are 10 very simple things that we can do to help make a difference.

  1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
    Reduce the amount of trash discarded, Reuse containers and products, and Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, cardboard, and newspapers.

  2. Save Our Trees
    Recycle paper, mail, newspapers and magazines. Use cloth towels instead of paper towels.

  3. Drink Responsibly
    Use reusable coffee mugs and water bottles at work or on the go--you'll use less paper and plastic.

  4. Hoof It - Carpool to church on Sundays!
    In the U.S., cars are responsible for about 25 percent of the greenhouse gases produced and 20 percent of the global total. Reduce the impact of your car use by carpooling, biking or walking. And if your car trip will take less than 5 minutes don't even bother grabbing your keys.

  5. Stop Toppin' Off
    Don't top off your gas tank--any gas you spill evaporates and contributes to air pollution.

  6. Conserve Water
    Do only full loads of laundry and don't let the water run when you brush your teeth or shave. An open faucet pours 5 gallons of water every 2 minutes.

  7. Buy Items with Recycled Content
    Buying items made from recycled content creates a need for recycled material. Try to cut down on your use of disposable items, like razors, dishes, and coffee cups.

  8. Donate your Mobile
    Checking out the latest cell phone? If you decide to buy a new phone, put your old one to good use by donating it to a charitable organization rather than throwing it away and clogging landfills.

  9. Conserve Electricity
    Put your computer in sleep mode and use power strips to switch off TVs and other electronics when you're not using them. Their standby power consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously. Unplug phone and camera chargers when you're not using them.

  10. Use Compact Fluorescent Lights
    Use compact fluorescent lights and shut off the lights when you leave a room. One compact fluorescent bulb will keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.