GIVE UP PLASTICS FOR LENT: February 22, 2026
Tips from the EarthSpiritAction Group
Background:
On February 04, St Matthew’s Kirk Session, passed the motion: “that St Matthew’s work to reduce the use of plastic in the activities of the church”.
History:
The production of plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics are affecting our health and the quality of our land, water, and air. This breakdown of plastic has reached crisis proportions as microplastics spread around the world.
Good News:
On Friday, February 06, The Federal Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in favour of the federal government’s authority to regulate plastic. This means that Canada’s plastic ban remains intact and that plastic-manufactured items can continue to be listed as toxic under schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This is a major win in the fight against plastic pollution in Canada.
Reducing the use of plastic at St Matthew’s: The dishwasher in the upper kitchen is now using pods containing non-toxic soap and are not wrapped in plastic.
Action:
Here are some tips to help us reduce the use of plastic here at St Matthew’s as well as in our home and work environments.
Sunday, February 15 (Ash Wednesday to Sunday, February 22:
1. Where is plastic being used in your home?
2. Recycle the plastic that Halifax will accept, washing it before placing in the blue bag.
3. Write to your Councillor in support of HalifAct.
4. Reflect on how we can reduce the use of plastic at St Matthew’s.
Tips to help us give up plastic for Lent:
Monday, February 23: Prepare plastic for recycling pick-up.
Tuesday, February 24: Replace any plastic cutlery with bamboo or metal cutlery.
Wednesday, February 25: Check your clothing labels for polyester, a synthetic fabric derived from petroleum.
Thursday, February 26: Purchase plastic-free dishwasher pods from naturebeegoods.com. (I am looking for a local distributor.)
Friday, February 27: Write to St Matthew’s Councillor in support of HalifAct.
Saturday, February 28: When grocery shopping, avoid foods in plastic containers.
Sunday, March: Suggest how we can reduce the use of plastic at St Matthew’s.
GIVE UP PLASTICS FOR LENT
Tips from the EarthSpiritAction Group
Background:
St Matthew’s Kirk Session, at the February 04 meeting, passed the following motion presented on behalf of the EarthSpiritAction group:
Move that St Matthew’s work to reduce the use of plastic in the activities of the church.
The motion passed unanimously.
History:
Over the last 30 years, research has shown that the manufacture and use of plastic has contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and impacted our health as well as the quality of our land, water, and air. The breakdown of plastic which has led to the prevalence of microplastics all over the world has reached crisis proportions.
Action:
As noted in “Good Tidings”, the EarthSpritAction team Newsletter, ‘people generally want to do the right thing. We just have to know what that is.’
Here are some tips to help us reduce the use of plastic here at St Matthew’s as well as in our home and work environments.
Tips to help us give up plastic for Lent:
Ash Wednesday: Take time to look around your home to see where plastic is being used in readiness for reducing plastic during Lent.Thursday, February 19 Recycling plastic. Halifax will not accept black plastic, plastic cutlery, or PVC#3. Check out the Halifax Website to find out what can be recycled.
Friday, February 20 Write to your Councillor in support of HalifAct.
Saturday, February 21 Wash plastic items for recycling to remove food residue and prepare your blue bag for recycling day.
Sunday, February 22 Reflect on how we can reduce the use of plastic at St Matthew’s.