The Green Team
God wants us to take care of our world. There are many things we can do—big and small—to be greener. Education followed by action is our Strategy! Volunteers and coalitions are doing God’s Work with Our Hands!
The Green Team shares information about reuse, conservation, recycling, and green alternatives. This is a community effort, and our community keeps growing! Here is a snapshot of the three main programs we currently support:
GREENSpeak
Quarterly education sessions are open to the public to learn about environmental initiatives. Attendees at these events spurred the formation of the Churches Caring for Creation (CC4C), a coalition of 14 Norman area churches that support each other's green activities.
Styrofoam Recycling
Started in 2019, our recycling program has exploded with engagement from all across Central Oklahoma. The Pioneer Library System, retail stores, The University of Oklahoma, the City of Norman, high schools, appliance stores, and of course, individuals are committed to bringing their food/drink and packaging styrofoam to our collection site events, to help wash styrofoam collected, and to learn how to operate our densifier to produce 10-pound logs of styrofoam.
Last year, we sold 17,000 pounds of densified logs to a regional recycling company. It was a great day to clear the shelves of a warehouse with space donated by the Oklahoma Geological Survey. We’re filling it up again in anticipation of another large sale in the second quarter of 2026! Here is some background on the program, and here is a Frequently Asked Questions sheet. Email or call the church office to see how you can join us!
Solar Panels
A dream for years, the Green Team joined forces with the church Facilities Committee in the 4Q 2025 to put forth a campaign to put solar panels on the roof. Within four months, the needed funds were raised, and the panels were installed. The payback is five years, and because we moved swiftly, the federal incentive deadline was met. EightTwenty is our solar vendor partner.
ULCSC's mobile densifying unit breaks, heats, and molds both packaging and food service styrofoam into logs weekly to empty the Styro-Station at ULCSC. We take the densifier to area libraries, to a commercial client's location periodically, and to fairs and festivals in the vicinity to demonstrate the safe disposal of styrofoam.
2026 Calendar of Styrofoam Collection and Densifying
(subject to weather)
It’s a good idea to contact these libraries or look on their monthly calendar pages online to confirm event dates. Also, check our Caring for Creations FB page!
Moore Public Library– Blanchard and Newcastle Public Libraries –
2/7, 4/25, 8/8 (10 – noon) + (1:30 – 2:30) 3/7, 7/11, 11/7
Shawnee Public Library – Purcell Public Library –
2/14, 5/9, 10/10 2/21, 5/16, 10/17
For the commercial participants who want to safely recycle Styrofoam and not put foam in landfills, we densify at their properties on an as-needed basis.