More than 125 churches and temples plus other community residents helped collect household hazardous waste, including what organizers called the “serious seven” -- herbicides, pesticides, car batteries, items containing mercury, drain cleaners, antifreeze, and old lead- and oil-based paints.

The collected waste filled seven 26-foot trucks and weighed 91,400 pounds, organizers said. They originally rented four large trucks but added three more at the last minute due to the large turnout. Some residents drove more than 20 miles to one of 25 collections sites that served more than 50 Upper Peninsula communities.

“We are delighted with the results of the Clean Sweep project throughout the Upper Peninsula,” said Bishop James Kelsey of the Diocese of Northern Michigan. “It is a sign of the commitment shared across our faith traditions to be faithful stewards of the creation into which we have been born and which sustains our lives.

“I think it’s a really remarkable thing that this particular initiative has crossed boundaries that usually don’t get crossed in terms of different faith traditions.”

Nine faith communities – Episcopal, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Baha’i, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and Zen Buddhist – co-sponsored Clean Sweep with two environmental groups, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. A $15,000 Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Grant helped fund the project.

“We are fortunate here in Marquette County because we have an excellent household hazardous waste program, but most people across the Upper Peninsula do not have any options for properly disposing of these dangerous pollutants,” said Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership. “Thanks to the Earth Keeper program, literally tons of chemicals will no longer pose a threat to our drinking water and the Great Lakes.”

Protecting the environment

Bishop James Garland of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette thanked all those involved for making the event a success. “The response to the Earth Keeper’s Clean Sweep demonstrates how sensitive the residents of the Upper Peninsula are to the importance of a healthful, clean environment,” he said. “Now many homes and garages are free of toxic substances that could have polluted our air and waters.”

Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Thomas Skrenes, leader of the Northern Great Lakes Synod, called the effort “the work of the Spirit.” “This was a job that needed to be done, and the faith community did it,” said Skrenes. “There were dozens of people who saw the need and made it happen.”

One of those people was Gail Griffith of the Unitarian Universalist church. “I’m so pleased to be able to get rid of the old paint that has been in the basement of our house since we bought it 40 years ago,” she said. “Way to go, Earth Keepers!”

Volunteer Gail Baravetto, a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Iron Mountain, said the turnout impressed her. “We had tremendous support from the community and received a lot of batteries, oil-based paint, antifreeze, herbicides and pesticides, thermometers and even a small bottle of mercury and drain cleaners,” said Baravetto. “It’s scary when you think those items could have been disposed of in our landfills, backyards or the woods.”

Carol Clark and Jenny Hansen, members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Gladstone, said they brought pesticides and antifreeze because they believed they were doing God’s work in protecting Lake Michigan.

“Since the Upper Peninsula is almost surrounded by the Great Lakes, it is extremely important how we handle these waste materials and see to it that they do not contaminate our water or our soil,” said Clark, a Trinity member for 33 years.

Organizers said that they hoped to make Clean Sweep an annual salute to Earth Day. “This faith-based initiative is a sign of the power of the spiritual community when we work together to redeem and protect the environment,” said the Rev. Jon Magnuson, project co-director, a Lutheran pastor and director of the Cedar Tree Institute.

Hansen said she hoped that happened. “I think the concept is wonderful and is something that will grow if it is done again,” she said. “I know that we will have more hazardous waste in another year, and it’s comforting to know that so much of it is being disposed of legally and not ending up in our landfills.”