
We are an Earth Care Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We pledge in our worship and discipleship to celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation. Our education strives to encourage and support each other in keeping and healing the creation. We seek to manage, maintain, and upgrade our facilities to respect and cherish all creation, and our outreach will encourage community involvement and public policy to protect and restore the earth.
How You Can Help Compost at Highland
At Highland we are supporting a healthier environment by composting food waste and paper products. This effort combined with the use of our ceramic dishes for fellowship meals reduces our environmental footprint. Following worship services and congregational meals, volunteers collect our compostable paper products and food scraps to place in bins which are picked up by Triad Composting and processed into usable compost. The bins are located outside the kitchen door at the back of the Activity Building. We invite the congregation to bring appropriate materials from home to contribute. Included in the acceptable items are: food scraps (plant, meat/fish, dry goods, dairy, leftovers, coffee/tea with filters and bags), corks, pet food, and select paper products. A complete list is available in the church office and is posted on the bins. (Ask Debbie if you have any questions!)
We welcome volunteers who would like to assist in the collection process after worship or meals. See the signup below for more information! ~ Highland’s Earth Care Team
Global Service & Earth Care Team: Sundays, following worship, opportunities are available to help with compost collection in restrooms and coffee areas; learn more and sign up here! Also, after church meals, folks may need help knowing what goes in the compost bins and what goes in the landfill. Sign up here to stand by the kitchen window to direct people so they place their remaining items in the correct receptacle.

Resources List
- Best By? Use By? Sell By? Here’s What the Expiration Dates on Your Food Really Mean.
- Calculate your carbon footprint: Food Scrap Conversion Calculator
- What can be recycled at Publix? Foam egg cartons, clean foam take-out trays, clean foam cups, plastic wraps, and more.
- Recycle at Your Local Staples Store!
- Learn more about Teracycle
- City of Winston – CityLink 311
- Recycling questions
- Composting NC Extension Agency
- Water keepers and Climate Solutions – Yadkin River Keeper; Piedmont Land Conservancy; Earth Justice; Project Drawdown; Blessed Tomorrow
Books & Articles
- Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda – by Shea Zukowski
- Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for Low-Carbon Living – Union of Concerned Scientists
- Establishing a Bee Lawn – Better Homes and Gardens
- How to Design and Install a Bee Lawn – YouTube
- Calculate Your Carbon Footprint – The Nature Conservancy
- Why Doctors Are Prescribing Nature Walks – Time Magazine
- Prayers for the Environment