EARTH KEEPERS

Who Are The Earth Keepers?

There are over 140 congregations UP-wide participating in the EarthKeepers program. View a list here. Particiapting EarthKeeper Congregations - May 2009

Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Jewish, United Methodist, Baha'i, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, and Zen Buddhist
During 2004, the Superior Watershed Partnership, in cooperation with The Cedar Tree Institute, approached the Bishops and religious leaders from nine faiths across the Upper Peninsula to sign an Earth Keeper Covenant agreeing to make a commitment to environmental stewardship addressing pollution prevention and toxics reduction. Currently, over 140 congregations from 50 U.P communities participate in the Earth Keeper Coalition. Other Earth Keeper partners include, but are not limited to, The Cedar Tree Institute, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, The Nature Conservancy, and Northern Michigan University. In 2005 the SWP and the Earth Keepers collected over 40 tons of household hazardous waste in one day, breaking all known records. In 2006 the SWP and the Earth Keepers collected over 320 tons of electronic waste in one day, again breaking all known records.

What Have We Accomplished?

Over 3 million lbs. of carbon reduced in 2008.
1+ tons of unwanted pharmaceuticals collected for proper disposal in 2007.
320+ tons of defunct computers and other electronic items collected in 2006.
45+ tons of hazardous household products collected in 2005.

The Superior Watershed Partnership received funding from the EPA's Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. See the summary of CARE's commitment to Earth Keepers.