With the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on the very near horizon, some folks around the diocese have been talking up ways to expand the dimensions of the Oct. 4 observance.

A lot of the discussion has focused on the fact that Francis isn’t just the patron saint of animals, he’s also the patron saint of the environment.

They’d like to encourage some emphasis on the later aspect of his patronage. Not that they want beach sweeps to replace the very popular animal blessing rite. They realize that this contemporary hallmark of the saint’s feast day has become huge.

Any attempt to marginalize it would certainly provoke howls from the multitudes who transport an astonishing number of species to parishes ever year for the ritual sprinkling of water and – whenever possible – a laying on of hands.

This rite has jumped denominational hurdles and gone mainline in a big way. It used to be that just high church Episcopalians joined in the festivities. Take a good look around this year and you’re likely to spot Methodists, Presbyterians and Lutherans staging blessing ceremonies in their parking lots.

But Francis’ manner of preaching on the duty of mankind to protect and enjoy nature as both stewards of God’s creation and as creatures ourselves, so embodies Catholic teaching on the environment that it should enjoy a day in the sun.

That being the case, I’ve been thinking of some answers to the question, “Environmentally speaking, what would Francis do?” were he here today and confronted with the environmental challenges of the early 21st century such as dwindling water reserves that threaten so many nations and our own over reliance on foreign energy sources.

Locally, poor husbandry of natural treasures also comes to mind. It isn’t uncommon to take a hike in our lovely, dark and deep woods and come across trash discarded by folks who can’t or won’t take the time to dispose of properly. What would Francis think of this wasteful phenomenon?

Not much I think.

Where the dumping of white goods is concerned, the high cost of proper removal might make him cut would-be offenders some slack for thinking of chucking the things into woodland habitats.

Disposing of old, energy glutton refrigerators in my development, which doesn’t provide the service, can run over $250 per appliance.

Were he among us today though, the astute Francis might point prospective dumpers to the innovative Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Program which started up this summer under the auspices of New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program.

In a flurry of press releases over the last couple of weeks touting the program, the agency makes a case for this recycling program that is hard to overlook. First of all, the state pays consumers who turn in their clunking, outdated appliances.

To be sure, it’s far, far less than the “Cash for Clunkers” program -- $30 a refrigerator or a freezer. But gosh, isn’t that better than paying $250 to have one toted away?

The older, inefficient units are removed at no cost and safely recycled.

The $30 is considered an incentive because you’re helping the environment which surely would be a plus in Francis’ book.

All New Jersey residents have to do is call 1-877-270-3520 or visit www.NJCleanEnergy.com to schedule a pickup time. They note that refrigerator recycler JACO Environmental provides the free hauling service. The old appliances are safely recycled at JACO’s East Brunswick facility.

“This program recycles 95 percent of the material from the older units,” said Michael Dunham, a member of the United Nations Environment Program task force and director of energy and environmental programs for JACO.

“Even the foam is safely incinerated to generate electricity,” he said.

The overall impact on climate change from recycling one refrigerator or freezer is equal to taking two cars off the road for one year, Dunham said in a prepared release.

The program is limited to removal of two units per household and appliances must be in working order with an inside measurement of 10 cubic feet or more. Visit the website for more details on the program and the complete eligibility requirements.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be trawling cyberspace in search of eco-savvy ways to celebrate St. Francis Day for use in At Issue in the Oct. 1 edition of The Monitor. It would be great to have reader suggestions in the mix. Send them by snail-mail to Lois Rogers, The Monitor, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Trenton, N.J. 08648 or e-mail: [email protected]