October 2020 | Time to Fall in Love with KHB!

Mayor Turner Announces Citywide Anti-Litter Campaign and Encourages Houstonians to Properly Dispose of COVID-19 Face Masks, Gloves and Sanitizer Wipes

Pictured (L to R):
Vice Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum
Mayor Sylvester Turner
KHB Executive Director Amy Reed
PARTNERING DEPARTMENTS
& AGENCIES :
  • Solid Waste Management Department
  • Houston Parks & Recreation Department
  • Keep Houston Beautiful
  • Houston Public Works Department
  • Department of Neighborhoods
  • Houston Airport System
  • Houston Police Department
  • Houston First Corporation
  • Houston Apartment Association
  • Greater Houston Partnership
  • TIRZs and Management Districts
  • METRO
  • Retailers Associations (Texas and Greater Houston)
to our newest appointed commissioners
to the Houston Clean City Commission


Alan Steinberg * Ilsa Garcia * James Spear
Katheryn Abou-Chakra * Leticia Ablaza * Mark Solano

And Welcome Back to our most recent re-appointments:

Don Poarch * Alexandria "Alex" Griffin * Dr. Adriana Tamez * Morris Smith
Walter Hambrick * Shavonnah Roberts Schrieber * Dixie Meynier
Razi Asaduddin * Daniel Derozier * Miranda Maldonado * Susan Cita
Houston Public Works, along with City Council Member Sally Alcorn, have extended the entry deadline for the “Name That Drain!” contest through October. The contest is part of the city’s Adopt-a-Drain program launched two years ago. The City of Houston spends $13 million annually to address flooding. The volunteer effort helps the city save taxpayer dollars by helping to maintain over 100,000 storm drains. To enter, visit HoustonAdoptADrain.org, click on the ‘Contest’ tab, claim a drain near you, give it a fun name, and make a promise to keep it free of debris, especially before storms.

The contest is a partnership with Houston Tool Bank, Volunteer Houston, and Keep Houston Beautiful. The first-place winner will receive a $500 DeWalt power tool kit (donated by Houston Tool Bank), drain maintenance tools, and a custom blue tile plaque displaying the winning name(s). Contest rules can be found here.
Solid Waste Management
Seeks Feedback on Long Range Plan
As part of its charge of sustainable environmental management and fiscal responsibility, the City is in the process of completing an updated Long-Range Solid Waste Plan. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that proper steps are being studied and adopted to ensure proper waste management practices for current and future Houstonians. 
 
Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed a Task Force to lead the Plan’s preparation; part of which included the hiring of an expert solid waste and environmental consultant to ensure alignment with federal, state and local stewardship laws and regulations. Key components of the plan’s study are to include the following:
·      Achieve Financial Sustainability for Solid Waste Services
·      Increase Reuse, Recycling and Organics Diversion​ and decrease environmental risks of waste disposal in landfills
·      Continue to Provide Quality Solid Waste Services​ to the residents and businesses of Houston
·      Ensure Long-term Disposal Capacity and Sustainable Solid Waste Infrastructure​
·      Provide solid waste management services in a safe, equitable, responsive, and environmentally responsible manner

As part of the planning process, the City is seeking community feedback. With the projected growth in both the number of residents and businesses, long-range solid waste management planning is a priority.
 
The Solid Waste Management Department has posted the proposed Long-Range Solid Waste Management Plan and a survey that residents can complete to share feedback for the draft plan on the project website. The survey is open through October 31, 2020.

In partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful and the Houston ToolBank, KHB will host and support small group clean-up and beautification efforts throughout the city. There are a couple of ways to participate.

  • Join us on October 24th from 9:00am to noon and be a part of one of the many 10 person teams we will send out into "our" neighborhood by the KHB Office located in Magnolia Park. You may register as an individual or with family/friends/coworkers. *No more than 10 members per clean-up team. All volunteers must wear a mask.

  • Or coordinate your own small team (No more than 10 members per team. Socially distancing and mask wearing is required.), pick a location and date during the month of October, and let us know what you will need. We're happy to assist with tools and supplies through our tool lending program in partnership with Houston ToolBank.

For more information. please email [email protected]
Join us on October 10, 2020 at Boynton Chapel United Methodist Church (2812 Milby St, Houston, TX 77004) from 9 am to 11 am for a Community Clean-Up in collaboration with Midtown Houston.

Gathering the community and neighbors for a clean-up is a great way to fuel civic engagement and lay the foundation for clean and safe communities. Through the clean-up we hope to heighten interest and involvement among community activities as we work toward reducing garbage and blight while we preserve the history of the community and the environment.
Awards for Youth Leaders

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award Recognitions offers three distinct awards that honor aspirations, abilities, technical accomplishments, and influential guidance. Award applicants need to: describe a problem that they would like TO SOLVE using technology and explain HOW they would solve it.
National Drive Electric Week

Located in the Houston area? Celebrate National Drive Electric Week by test driving a Chevrolet Bolt EV! In collaboration with EVolve Houston, Chevrolet is bringing Houstonians an opportunity to drive a Chevrolet Bolt EV and receive a $50 gift card. Get registered for your test drive: 
The future is electric - so why not experience the nimble, smooth ride of the Bolt EV and see how it could fit your life!
Keep Houston Beautiful| 832.834.6105 | i[email protected] |www.houstonbeautiful.org