Fall is on the way and with that comes football season and, in Texas, that means one thing—tailgating. If you aren’t familiar with tailgating, it’s very simple, you park at or near the stadium and prepare to cheer on your team. How does one tailgate? Another simple answer. Gather your group to share eating and drinking while watching the pregame shows and talking predictions. As you can imagine, such a gathering can leave quite a large footprint behind, but what if that didn’t have to be the case? What if there were ways to help eliminate that footprint?

Whether you prefer gas grilling or charcoal, cooking outside produces more than delicious meats and vegetables. We examine the waste both grilling methods produce and what to do with it.

When we think about recycling, we don't often think about textiles. Textiles are made from natural or synthetic fibers (or a blend), and are used to make clothing, shoes, linens, bedding, upholstery, curtains, mattresses, carpets, and much more. Nearly all domestic textiles are recyclable, but less than 15% of textiles generated in the U.S. are reused or recycled — leaving 85% to be landfilled or incinerated. On average, each American throws away 70 pounds of textiles per year. 

As temperatures rise and everyone gets ready to spend time outside, what better way to celebrate the start of summer than with an eco-friendly party? From the invitations to the decorations, there are many ways to pull off an amazing celebration that also takes care of our environment. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind when planning your next summer party. 

The beginning of the year is a chance to start new habits or restart some that may have waned during the year. Did you promise to use fewer plastic bags and now find yourself buried in them? How about starting that compost pile? No worries, it happens! But this year can be different if you start with small changes, because small impacts make big ripples. 
 

'Tis the season to get together and celebrate, Texas-style, but that doesn't mean our impact on Texas landfills has to be as big as the parties and gifts. Common forms of waste at holiday gatherings include paper invitations, excess food, disposable plates and utensils, and gift wrapping. This year, reduce waste at your gatherings with these planning tips!

Did you know your purchases have power? Buying local and choosing products made with recycled materials doesn’t just help the environment, it also supports your local and state economy. This means jobs for your neighbors!

With the holiday season on our doorstep, it’s important to prepare for any events you might attend or host. A little bit of planning will go a long way to making your holiday event environmentally friendly.  

September is National Preparedness Month! With unpredictable weather, it’s important that you and your family are prepared for any disaster that may come your way. We want to make sure that you are not only prepared, but that you have the tools you need to teach your kids or students how they can help their families be prepared as well. You can start with a few simple steps.

Millions of Texans are expected to travel this summer. As people start getting out and about again, it is important to remember that small changes can have a substantial impact on the environment. Whether you plan to soak in the sun at South Padre Island, hike the Guadalupe Peak, road trip through Amarillo, float down the Comal, stroll down San Antonio’s Riverwalk, or swim at Devil's Waterhole, there are small actions that can help us all Take Care of Texas.