"God's glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon"
Psalm 19:1
MAKING AN IMPACT
We see the world around us as an expression of God's incredible creative genius! It's here to declare the glory of God (you can read more in Psalm 19), and one of the roles we have as the human race is to do a good job of looking after the world.
The King's Eco-Group (formerly known as Ecobricks) is a group of people who meet regularly, and one of their aims is to of help us as a community to look for ways to reduce our impact on the environment and do a good job of looking after the world. One way we can do this is to be aware of how much plastic we use, as this causes a real problem to our environment in terms of wasted resources, use of hydrocarbons, energy requirements for recycling and damage to our surroundings. We recently have been litter picking in the area and the amount of plastic waste on the streets is staggering (we almost filled a commercial waste bin from 4 teams of people over an hour of litter collecting).
Sometimes we may need to be more aware of the impact we have, and often just small changes in our choices can make a really positive difference. We're keen to explore the options and encourage ourselves and others to make good choices wherever possible.
Whether you can do a little, or a lot, you're welcome to join us and participate in the adventure of exploring ways to have a positive benefit.
You can read more about the Group's History and our Current Projects and Recycling Opportunities and Ideas for Change.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
The Group usually meets on Saturday morning’s between 11am and 1pm in the Living Room at the King's Church Centre next to the Café. We spend our time together working on projects, discussing recycling opportunities, and exploring positive ways that we can encourage active participation in being good stewards of our environment. We also enjoy hot drinks and cake supplied by the cafe.
Group History
2019
Ecobricks is born
The Group started back in 2019 in response to the amount of plastic being thrown in the bin. The EcoBrick project was seen as a way of diverting plastic out of the waste stream. The principle of packing plastic bottles and using those bottles in various projects. The bottles were used to create a bench seat, two raised beds and children’s stools. Some of these stools have gone into primary schools in the local area and the Eco Group did a presentation about plastic use and Ecobricks at Oakwood Primary school. This has reused over 200kg of soft and hard plastic which would otherwise ended up in landfill.
2020-2022
Throughout the pandemic the group continued to stuff bottles with plastic waste while at home. In 2021 they built a bench seat out of a variety of different sized EcoBricks. The bench is situated in the church courtyard. This was followed by the building of a raised bed in the church courtyard. This is the second raised bed the group have made, the first being made in the garden of members of the group.
Building projects begin
Children's stool made out of 2 Litre Ecobricks
A bench seat made out of recycled plastic EcoBricks
A raised bed, made from recycled plastic and natural materials (cob, straw, lime)
2024
Eco Group formed with wider remit
By 2024 many more opportunities for plastic recycling have become available e.g. soft plastic returns to supermarkets and swapping of plastic packaging for more sustainable types, have drastically reduced the plastic available for Ecobrick projects.
The focus of the group is moving from stuffing bottles to supporting sustainable activity around the King’s Church environment and seeking out recycling opportunities.
Current projects
01
COMPLETING ECOBRICKS PROJECTS
Including Making another children's stool from remaining 2L bottle.
03
MAKING BIRD BOXES,
BUG HOTELS AND OTHER WILDLIFE HABITATS
04
RECYCLING RESEARCH AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES
Earlier this year we participated in the Big Plastic Count, which helped us to realise across our community that we generate a suprising amount of plastic waste, which has a negative impact on our environment especially if it is sent to land-fill (via our green wheelie bins). To help inspire our community to engage with recycling, we've put together a summary of various collection points for different items.
Soft Plastic recycling
The major supermarkets have really improved their recycling schemes and now recycle a lot of different materials, including soft plastics.
For example, Sainsbury's takes a selection of soft plastics - a list of what is accepted can be read here.
Hard Plastic recycling
This is currently challenging to recycle in Southampton. Portsmouth is leading the way, with a number of street locations dotted around the city, like these listed here.
Hard plastic includes food packaging, containers, trays and bottles that can be posted into the orange container bins in Portsmouth.
Recycling Cartons and Metal
Cartons, mixed glass, aluminium, clothes and shoes can be recycled at the Willis Avenue Recycling Centre, SO52 9EJ as well as at Bus Station/Broadwater Car Park, SO51 8LB in Romsey.
REpairing broken Items
REpairing broken Items
Repair cafés are held at multiple venues across Southampton each month. A variety of different items can be taken along to be repaired, including; electrical items, laptops, bikes, clothes, jewellery, metalwork, woodwork and furniture.
A list of venues and upcoming dates of repair cafés can be found here on Transition Southampton's home page.
Repair cafés are held at multiple venues across Southampton each month. A variety of different items can be taken along to be repaired, including; electrical items, laptops, bikes, clothes, jewellery, metalwork, woodwork and furniture.
A list of venues and upcoming dates of repair cafés can be found here on Transition Southampton's home page.
in the kitchen
Ideas
for
change
in the Bathroom
Give thought to your purchasing decisions.
You don't need to change everything at once, try one step at a time.
Fruit and veg
Employ a milkman
Use zero waste shops
Use reusable/travel mugs, Cups and Metal Water Bottles
Increasingly coffee shops will fill your own mug for takeaway drinks.
Use Kilner Jars and glass containers for storing food
Use Bees Wax wraps or silicone covers instead of clingfilm
Use re-uasable silicone or plastic bags
Use washable dish cloths
Use Soap bars
Use Shampoo bars
Use toothpaste tablets
Use bamboo toothbrushes
Use cotton face pads
For more ideas look here
Use Metal straws or biodegradable straws or paper straws.
Have fresh, local fruit and veg delivered to yourdoor.
Such as Bitterne Box* or Oddbox.
*Bitterne Box also offer a range of other fridge items and pantry items as well as sustainable household items.
e.g. Milk & More* offer a variety of fresh dairy, juice, bread, pantry items and more delivered to your door overnight every other day.
*Other milk delivery services available.
Such as Lemon & Jinja, in Romsey or
Aldermoor Community Farm in Aldermoor.
Use bags for life, reusable bags or tote bags when shopping.