In these last few months, COVID-19 has left a lasting impact on our everyday lives. From having to remember to wear a face mask when out in public to respecting social distancing guidelines, COVID-19 has affected us in numerous ways. Aside from it changing our everyday habits, the virus has led to healing the environment in positive and unthin...

Sixteen years ago this February I received the call that is every parent's worst nightmare. It was Harborview Hospital and the woman said: "is your daughter Maria?"I said yes and she said, "She is in critical condition. You need to get here as soon as you can." Maria was on her way home from work that night when someone ahead of her had lost a piec...

As the weather warms up and stay-at-home orders are lifted across the state, Texas' parks and green spaces have seen a large increase in traffic. Spending time outdoors has become increasingly important for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as summer approaches and many camps and summer vacations cancelled, we expect that the increase i...

​The bathroom is full of products that can be recycled. Unfortunately, this area of the house can get overlooked when it comes to recycling in the household. Our friends at Unilever, who created the Love Beauty Planet line of shampoos and personal care products, is committed to making all their products recyclable and helping consumers live mo...

I am a reformed clotheshorse. I worked in e-commerce for an online boutique and one of the perks was an amazing discount. On top of it, I was one of the first to see each piece as they were received. It was easy to say, "that's cute, I'll buy it." It was a thrill to have the latest style before anyone else. I moved through my fashion career and sta...

Before COVID-19 became a part of our lives, community organizations were picking up plastic bottles, cigarette butts and fast food litter.  We were fighting for Bottle Bills, Bag Bans and declaring war on plastic straws.  Current trends during COVID-19 show a different future coming for litter cleanups.  We are se...

As we draw nearer to the 50th Earth Day on April 22, it is worth reflecting on the history and legacy that it represents. Earth Day is one of the most visible and effective environmentalist campaigns in American history. Understanding how it came to be and how it has operated over the last five decades is an important piece of understanding federal...

If you're like the average Texan, you're probably trying out teleworking or potentially the new task of homeschooling your children. We see you—hang in in there! Spending more time at home has its perks—no commute, more time with family—but there are also unforeseen consequences, like using more resources (energy and water) and potentially creating...

According to CNBC, only 43% of employees, pre-COVID-19, were able to work from home at least one day per week.  Now that we are in the midst of a global pandemic, those numbers have skyrocketed.  Those of us lucky enough to have the option are working from home full time and even tutoring our children for online school...

Our friends at Texas Disposal Systems recently shared some great tips to protect waste processing employees. These brave men and women put themselves at risk every day to help manage our waste. Please follow the tips below to help keep them safe during these uncertain times.  ​Essential personnel brings to mind doctors, nurses, ...

This month, Keep Texas Beautiful is highlighting Texas's aquatic resources by designating March Waterways Cleanup Month. More than 80,000 miles worth of rivers, streams, and bayous crisscross Texas, adding to our state's profound natural beauty. Texas is home to 15 major rivers and 3,700 named streams (per Texas Parks and Wildlife), which are integ...

One of the biggest sustainability trends these days is the reduction of single-use plastics. We all love the convenience and our lives are definitely easier with a stream of disposable products, but do you ever stop to think about where those containers, straws, and sporks end up? Recycling is always an option, but did you know that only about 35% ...

Texas consists of many rural communities and sparsely populated counties. Because of their size and remote locations, many of these entities are unable to establish cost-effective recycling programs. They are constrained by small tax bases, limited infrastructure for collection of recyclable materials, long distances to processors and/or end market...

When we think about recycling, we often think of paper, aluminum, and plastic. However, we should also consider electronics as part of our recycling mentality. As the newest versions of smartphones, televisions, and computers are released each year, the amount of electronic waste is increasing at a rapid rate. With this increasing waste stream come...

 Each year, the Governor's Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) celebrate ten Texas communities for their outstanding efforts to keep their communities beautiful. From the Texas coast to the Panhandle, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded cities with this honor since 1986. Winners are selected for their ability to engage c...

In March 2018, we published a blog about the state of the recycling industry and how the China Sword (China's import ban on contaminated material) was affecting recycling markets, and therefore, recycling programs all across the country. It's been about a year and a half since we wrote that blog, and with America Recycles Day coming up this week, w...

Like many great things, America Recycles Day (ARD) started in Texas. Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis had a vision of dedicating one day out of the year to bring attention to recycling. Kevin and Valerie worked hard at promoting this idea within their community, but they wanted it to grow on a national scale. On October 22nd, the two pitched America ...

Halloween is quickly approaching, and before you know it, you'll be knee-deep in decor, costumes, candy wrappers and pumpkins. Here is a quick and simple guide to reducing your waste during this spooky season, so you don't have to fret over what not to do!  Costumes​​​​​ Whether you're a Halloween costume fanatic that must beat all rivaling ne...

Spring is in full bloom! April is upon us, which means it is Earth Month! Earth Month is an entire 30 days dedicated to environmental education, impact, and appreciation. It's a great opportunity to observe the wonder of the planet, and to take steps to help improve it. In honor of this month long holiday, we created a guide of vario...

​Each year, the Governor's Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) celebrate ten Texas communities for their outstanding efforts to keep their communities beautiful. From the Texas coast to the Panhandle, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded cities with this honor since 1986. Winners are selected for their ability to engage citize...