ARTICLES > OCTOBER 16, 2006

CITY CELEBRATES AMERICA RECYCLES DAY WITH GO GREEN HOUSTON RALLY

October 16, 2006 -The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department, Keep Houston Beautiful and H-E-B are sponsoring the Go Green Houston Rally on America Recycles Day / Texas Recycles Day (Nov. 15, 2006) at the reflection pool area of City Hall (Herman Square), 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas at 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. This rally will complement Mayor Bill White's curbside recycling initiative to increase recycling participation and tonnage in areas that receive curbside recycling services. This is a free event. Open to the public.

Go Green Houston Rally Photo Gallery

The Go Green Houston Rally will highlight traditional and non-traditional recycling opportunities. "We are excited to join other cities around the state and nation as they celebrate and encourage recycling on America Recycles Day," said Mayor Bill White.

To demonstrate a big Houston show of support, Houstonians are asked to "GO GREEN" by wearing green clothing and bringing gently used eyeglasses, clothing and/or baby items, as well as non-perishable food items to benefit non-profit organizations that reduce, reuse or recycle materials to the Go Green Houston Rally. The Go Green Houston Rally will be a fun and festive venue as local high school bands and Radio Disney (including their radio personalities and interactive children's activities) encourage Houstonians to recycle. Also, there will be opportunities to win prizes such as:

an electric Black and Decker lawnmower (sponsored by Republic Waste Services),
an eGo cycle electric moped (sponsored by Abitibi Consolidated),
a Hammock made from recycled material (sponsored by Sierra Club),
a couple of garden compost bins (sponsored by Keep Houston Beautiful)
$250 gift card for a child (sponsored by Devon Energy)
$250 gift card for an adult (sponsored by Devon Energy)
$100 gift certificate (sponsored by Waste Management)
$100 gift certificate (sponsored by Allied Waste Services)
$100 gift certificate from Teas Nursery (sponsored by Janice Gabriel), and
2 cartons of Earth Choice Recycled Content Copy Paper (sponsored by Clampitt Paper Company)

America Recycles Day pledge cards will be issued to attendees. Local participants will also be eligible to win national prizes: a 7-day cruise trip for 2 to Alaska and 5 bicycles.

Mayor White and Go Green Houston For more information about the Go Green Houston Rally, call 3-1-1, the City's Customer Service Hotline or log onto www.gogreenhouston.org.

Curbside Recycling is provided bi-weekly to 162,000 Houston homes. Materials collected are: aluminum and tin cans, #1 and #2 plastic containers, corrugated cardboard, mail, envelopes, home and office paper, telephone books, newspapers, magazines and used motor oil.

The Curbside Recycling program is Houston's most visible recycling program with its "green bin." However, "Recycling is for everyone" and the City of Houston offers recycling opportunities to all of its residents through area drop-off locations. For a list of locations, log on to www.houstonsolidwaste.org or call 311, the City's Customer Service Hotline.

H-E-B and Keep Texas Beautiful recently awarded Keep Houston Beautiful a grant to be used to help create promotional materials for the "Go Green Houston" rally. "H-E-B is an environmentally proactive company that takes many steps to reduce waste. We are proud that we can help Texas communities do the same," said Susan Ghertner.

Keep Houston Beautiful is the award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, a non-profit organization committed to preventing litter, reducing waste and creating beauty. For information on volunteer opportunities, log on to www.houstonbeautiful.org.

The Solid Waste Management Department provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.