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Upcoming Events
Fourth of July Holiday
 No changes to residential collections.
Environmental Excellence Awards
 Deadline for applications is August 15. View all award categories here.
School Green Teams
 First day of school is August 13. Sign up to be a School Green Team. Learn more.
Echo Heights Special Event Litter Cleanup
Saturday, September 7
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more info, click here.
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2024 Community Litter Survey
The 2024 Community Litter Survey is now open, and Keep Fort Worth Beautiful needs your input! With over 300 responses so far, we are eager to hear from even more residents across the City.
The survey is looking for resident feedback on various litter-related issues including litter source control, litter removal and abatement, education and outreach, and opportunities for improvement. This input will help the Environmental Services Department identify the most prominent litter problems in Fort Worth and help plan the next steps the department will take. The survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish.
Survey closes on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Click here to take the survey today!
School Green Team of the Year
This year’s winner was Westcliff Elementary School. Their School Green Team was comprised of members from the Recycling Club and the Environmental Club.
With the help of their team leader, Eric Wueste, Westcliff Elementary School started a schoolwide recycling program, grew a food garden, began composting on campus, and implemented other environmental activities, earning them a winning total of 425 points.
Keep Fort Worth Beautiful presented Westcliff Elementary with green kits and a tree supplied by the Park & Recreation Department, during their tree-planting celebration. Congratulations to Westcliff Elementary School!
To learn more about how your team can become the next School Green Team of the Year, click here!
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Recycling Plastics in Fort Worth
Plastics are not all the same, and accepted, recyclable plastics vary from city to city. Remembering which items are recyclable based on their manufacturing numbers can become overwhelming. Here are some easy tips and tools to make recycling in Fort Worth easier.
Start simple. The easiest plastics to recycle are bottled beverages to include sodas, bottled water, and juice jugs. Make sure all liquids are removed before recycling.
Use the Waste Wizard. The Solid Waste website has an easy-to-use Waste Wizard system to quickly instruct you on which items to recycle. It also provides information about trash disposal, alternative facilities to dispose/recycle items, and reminders about your collection date.
Download the Fort Worth Garbage & Recycling App. Get information about recyclable items right at your fingertips. Download the app and access the Waste Wizard conveniently from your mobile device. You can also input your address and get weekly reminders of your collection date.
When in doubt, throw it out. Placing items in your recycle bin that you are unsure is accepted in Fort Worth can lead to contamination of an entire collection load. It’s better to throw an item out with the garbage than to contaminate your recycling.
For more information about recycling and other residential curbside collections, visit www.fortworthtexas.gov/solidwaste.
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DFW Ozone Efforts
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is working towards meeting the eight-hour ozone emission standards to ensure cleaner and healthier air for everyone. Ozone is an invisible gas with no smell that, when close to the ground, can affect our breathing and lung health. Ozone season runs from March 1 through October 31, with ozone levels usually peaking between late May and mid-September.
Stay informed and monitor ozone levels in Fort Worth with these Air Quality Index (AQI) resources:
These tools can help you plan outdoor activities when the air quality is at its best.
Click here for more information on Air Quality programs in Fort Worth.
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Summer Cleanup
Safety Tips
Summer is here and so is the heat. Keep Fort Worth Beautiful wants to ensure that all volunteers are taking protective measures against the hot weather during litter cleanups. It is especially important during summer months as more people spend time outside.
Stay protected during your cleanup with these tips:
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water or fluids.
- Wear protective gear like hats, sunglasses, and loose-fitting light clothing.
- Use cooling towels or portable fans.
- Avoid high temperatures. Plan cleanups in the early morning, late afternoon, or on days when temperatures are cooler.
- Wear sunscreen.
The team would like to extend a big thank you to all volunteers who help keep the community clean and litter free. To learn more about the Volunteer-led Cleanup Program, click here!
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Volunteers Look Out for Birds in Fort Worth!
The City of Fort Worth bi-annually promotes Lights Out, Fort Worth, an initiative to protect migrating birds. Each year, the Texas Conservation Alliance accepts volunteers to survey birds in downtown Fort Worth as they migrate through the City. This year, there were 21 volunteers that completed 357 volunteer hours over the course of the season, with surveyors going out at least four times per week.
The number of bird mortalities dropped significantly from 110 mortalities in 2023 to 33 mortalities in 2024. Keep Fort Worth Beautiful would like to express their gratitude to the community for helping the migratory birds pass safely through the City.
For more information on Lights Out, Fort Worth, please visit: Lights Out DFW | Texas Conservation Alliance (tcatexas.org)
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Don’t Let Your Grill Turn into a Fire Drill!
Summer is the best for grilling, but don’t make a safety "missteak"! The stakes are just too high.
When you are done serving up steaks, hot dogs, or burgers, safely dispose of charcoal with these tips:
- Ensure the coals/wood chips including the inner coals and ash are COMPLETELY cool before disposing.
- A good rule of thumb is to wait 48 hours.
- If safe to do so, you can extinguish the charcoals with water.
- Using tongs, remove the cool charcoals and wrap them in foil.
- Toss into your brown garbage cart, NOT the blue recycling cart.
Clap for joy as you helped to prevent a curbside fire. "Franks" a lot!
Happy safe, summer grilling!
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Composting Corner
It’s June, which means the Texas summer is here. Below are some tips to keep you composting through the warmer weather:
- Store food scraps in the fridge or freezer in a yogurt container or ice cream pail. Empty contents into compost bucket before heading to one of our collection locations.
- Add coffee grounds to your compost to reduce odor.
- Set a trap by your compost bucket to catch any fruit flies and gnats.
- Aerate your compost bucket by “turning” your compost over with a strong twig or a fork.
- Empty your bucket at one of our collection locations regularly. Less volume means fewer, pesky flies.
For more info about Residential Food Waste Composting Program, click here.
Happy summer!
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To receive updates on other volunteer news and opportunities with the City, sign up for The Cowtown Volunteer Connection - a newsletter for City of Fort Worth volunteers.
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