February 1 , 2007

CONTACT: Josh Spradling
1-800-CLEAN-TX

Program Provides Texans with Free Supplies to Clean Waterways

(Austin , Texas) – Have you noticed cans, wrappers, tires, and other debris in or around your lakes, creeks, and rivers? Cleaning it up this spring may be easier than you think! Thanks to the Lake and River Cleanup Program, Texans can receive FREE cleanup supplies, planning and promotional support, educational materials, and volunteer giveaways for cleanups of local waterways.

The Lake and River Cleanup Program is a partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that assists community organizations, scout and youth groups, schools, local governments, businesses, and concerned citizens across the state as they host waterway cleanups and environmental education activities. The program supports cleanups of all inland freshwater areas, including streams, ponds, and wetlands.

“The Lake and River Cleanup Program is a fantastic opportunity for any Texan to get involved in enhancing their community environment,” Keep Texas Beautiful President Debbie Johnston s aid. “The program supports events of any size and gives volunteers the tools necessary to improve water quality, restore its natural beauty, and reduce potential threats to human health and wildlife.”

Free supplies include trash bags, gloves, litter pick-up tools, first aid kits, hand sanitizer, educational booklets, give-away items for youth, scout patches, promotional posters, an event planning guide, and more. Last spring, more than 26,000 Texans participated in one or more of the 132 events supported by the program and collected 455,612 pounds of debris. With your help, Texas waterways can have an even brighter future this year!

To receive more information on the Lake and River Cleanup Program, register an event, or find out if there is a cleanup scheduled near you, visit www.ktb.org or call 1-800-CLEAN-TX. No event is too big or small, so get involved today!

Keep Texas Beautiful , a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement nonprofit and affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 340 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. For more information on programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-TX or visit the website at www.ktb.org.

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