"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden to cultivate it and guard it."

-Genesis 2:15

​

As a Christian ministry, we take seriously our call to be good stewards of God's creation. Part of this calling means doing our part to reduce our own waste streams and encourage greener behaviors in our community.

​

Beginning in 2019, COM began a recycling program. As a large generator of cardboard waste because of the food pantry, COM partnered with Polk County to begin offering a cardboard recycling service to residents and businesses. COM collects cardboard, bales it, and sends it off to a paper mill to be recycled. Additionally, COM offers cardboard pickups for local businesses (learn more here).

​

COM has also partnered with Computer Recycling Center in Springfield to offer paper shredding and electronic scrap recycling. Old electronics may be given to COM to be recycled and data containing devices or papers are securely destroyed.

​

Other products COM recycles include clothing/shoes/purses, aluminum cans, and old mattresses.

​

This program not only provides an additional source of income for our food pantry and case management programs, but it also creates job training opportunities for our clients who are working on improving their skills for employment.