There’s a rumor going around Texas that it’s illegal to pick bluebonnets, the state flower. Anyone who has spent at least one spring season here has…
Watch and share this video about enjoying Texas bluebonnets, and feel free to share with your friends and neighbors!
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There are some areas where you should not pick bluebonnets. For example, there are laws against criminal trespassing, so ensure that you are not…, Many of the wildflowers growing on the side of the road are annuals, which means they won’t grow back if they are picked or trampled before they can…,
While enjoying the gorgeous wildflowers along our state’s roadways, consider following these tips from the Texas Department of Public Safety—for…, Identify Common Texas Wildflowers
Plant Your Own Bluebonnet Patch
Millions of Texans across the state have access to recycling programs, whether by rolling a recycling bin to the curb; bringing bottles, cans, or…
This recycled material supply chain is an important and growing piece of the Texas economy. According to the TCEQ’s recently published Recycling…, Recycling from households, businesses, schools, and similar sources is considered municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling. In 2019, Texans recycled…, Recycling provides benefits to the Texas economy in many ways.
Jobs: Recycling supported nearly 23,000 jobs across the state in 2019, including 6,…, Recycling in Texas keeps useful materials out of landfills and creates valuable inputs to manufacturing. Collecting, processing, and transporting…
Nature-deficit disorder is a term you may have heard in recent years. It’s the relatively new idea that people, children in particular, who spend…
Though the term is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it encapsulates a…, The term Nature-Deficit Disorder® was introduced in 2005 in Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit…, Put simply, NDD is caused by not going outside and experiencing nature.
Whether it’s work, school, or leisure, modern life in America often revolves…, According to the Children and Nature Network, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that nature-deficit disorder can lead to a host of…, If you give children the opportunity to be outdoors, their curiosity for nature will often happen, well... “naturally.” But be careful not to push…, Visiting a Texas State Park is a great way to get outside. These parks represent some of the best our state has to offer. Pledge to Take Care of…
Rivers are an important natural resource in Texas. They're not only essential natural habitats for many species of plants and animals, but they also…
The Rio Grande - English Handout
El Rio Grande - Spanish Handout
Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS): 4.2D, F; 3A. 5.2D, F; 3A; 5C; 9C. 6…, The Rio Grande - English
El Rio Grande - Spanish
There are many ways to conserve in your daily life. Whether you’re at home, at school, in the office, or out and about, you can make decisions that…
Earth Month is a great time to organize a beautification or cleanup event with your family, friends, business, or community groups! All Texans can…
The best way to start is by identifying an improvement you can make in your neighborhood or community. Ideas for beautification projects include…,
The Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program. It takes place each year from March-May. In addition to…, You can benefit the community and make your commute to work more pleasant by participating in a large-scale program like TxDOT’s Adopt a Highway…,
If you live on the coast or need a reason to take a trip to the beach, the Texas General Land Office hosts Adopt-A-Beach cleanup events. This…, Keep Texas Waterways Clean is another event to tidy up your favorite living waterway. Each volunteer group must pick a destination within 30 miles of…, If your project will include tree planting, learn the best way to plant a tree. Recommendations for planting and landscaping are available in the…
As every resident of this state knows, Texas is the best place on Earth. So celebrate this Earth Day by Taking Care of Texas right where you are!…
1. Start a compost bin or pile at home for food waste and compostable materials. To get started, check out this composting video, as well as this…, 7. Don't dump fats, oils, and greases (FOG) down the drain. FOG in the drain leads to clogged pipes and contaminated water. Collect FOG in a sealable…,
14. Want to prevent waste from heading straight for the landfill? Use this Texas School Recycling Guide to get you started. It’s a great resource…
Take Care of Texas (TCOT) is a statewide campaign of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that encourages Texans to keep our air and…, To fully protect TCEQ trademarks so that they remain valuable assets for years to come, the agency registered the marks with the State of Texas…, Neither the TCOT logo, tagline, or the PP seal, can be used unless permission has been granted by TCEQ. To request permission, please contact us at…,
Standard Configurations (Example A)
Both the TCOT logo and PP seal are a combination of text and art. The logo is either three color, solid black…, Misuse of the TCOT logo or PP seal includes, but is not limited to, using either of them:
Without permission from TCEQ.
To sell, advertise, market,…, If you have any questions about the use of the TCOT logo or Proud Partner seal, or to request permission to use either of them, please contact the…
The Take Care of Texas webinar is no longer available. Please email questions to [email protected].
Take Care of Texas is here to help you to find ways to Take Care of our local pollinators! Here we’ve compiled five easy ways to help our winged…
Texas pollinators use native flowers and shrubs for food and shelter. By adding local plants to your garden, you can give them a great place to visit…, While honeybees live in large colonies, many other bee species are solitary. And sometimes these incredible pollinators struggle to find shelter. You…, Be mindful of the chemicals that you put in your garden, even if they are organic! Pesticides can dramatically impact the local pollinator…, Just like us, pollinators can easily become dehydrated, especially in warmer weather. By adding a water source, you can provide all sorts of critters…, It's not just bees and butterflies that pollinate the plants of Texas but bats too! Planting various night blooming plants such as cacti can provide…, Pollinators are essential for a healthy environment and following these tips will ensure you are doing your part in helping those populations…
There are lots of ways to get around the great state of Texas, but with the transportation being one of the leading sources of emissions each year,…
Here’s a list of the different ways you can travel in Texas, and how each impacts the environment.
, This one might be a given, but walking and biking don’t produce any emissions, since they are both powered by your body! Find restaurants, grocery…, If you live in or near a metropolitan area of Texas, odds are you have several types of public transportation available. Buses are great ways to…, Many cities now allow private companies to supply electric bikes and scooters for pedestrians in their area. These services allow you to move around…, While Texas does not have a high-speed rail, a project is underway to add a line between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. The project, called Texas…, There are several existing commuter train lines that crisscross the state, providing access to many areas of Texas. Companies like Amtrak, the…, While driving a personal vehicle is not always the best choice for the environment, there are several ways to make your drives a bit “greener.” One…, You might’ve thought that flying would be better for the environment than a personal vehicle, due to the considerable number of passengers on most…, Overall, evaluating how you travel around your community is a great start to making positive environmental changes. Try seeing if a coworker lives…
The construction and repair of buildings, homes, and other structures generates a great deal of waste. Demolition and renovation projects, including…
C&D debris includes items from buildings, bridges, and road projects such as concrete, asphalt, bricks, lumber, steel, wiring, drywall, carpets,…,
Depending on the material, C&D debris can be reused or recycled in many ways.
Concrete, asphalt, brick, tile, and aggregate (sand,…,
To encourage reuse and recycling, some Texas cities have created ordinances requiring certain C&D projects to divert materials from the landfill…
Every Texan can get involved in community activities that help keep our air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste.
The…
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program interns collaborate with scientific, technical, and business leaders at the Texas Commission on…, Keep Texas Beautiful is a network of dedicated Texans working together to make our state the best place to live, work, and play. KTB equips…, Texas Adopt-A-Highway Program is a Texas-born program that allows volunteers to adopt stretches of state-maintained roadway to conduct litter…, Texas Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They…, EcoRise inspires a new generation of leaders to design a sustainable future for all with school-based programs empower youth to tackle real-…, Recycling Programs of the TCEQ is a comprehensive list of resources from Texas’ own environmental regulation agency. Start here for all of your…
Water is a fundamental part of life for humans, animals, and plants. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults need between 11-16 cups of fluid each day…
Texas has 23 major river basins supplying water to more than 29 million people; from El Paso and the Guadalupe Mountains to Austin and the rolling…, Drinking water comes from two sources: surface water and groundwater. It usually begins as precipitation, like rain or snow, which then flows into…, Local municipalities collect this surface water, groundwater, and rainfall, which then goes through a filtration process to ensure that viruses…, As the summer months approach, many areas of Texas are already taking precautions and encouraging their residents to conserve, so that all…, Water plays a vital role in our lives. It is always important to conserve water, especially during drought conditions, so we can ensure there is…