Polytechnic Heights Special Event Litter Cleanup was a success!

Community pride was on full display on Saturday, Dec. 13, as 34 volunteers joined Environmental Services staff for the Polytechnic Heights Special Event Litter Cleanup, including former Assistant City Manager, Fernando Costa.

Equipped with gloves, trash bags, and litter grabbers, staff and volunteers split into teams to remove litter from Titus Paulsel Park and surrounding streets, sidewalks, and greenspaces in the neighborhood. The morning of hard work paid off in a big way—removing an impressive 17,170 pounds of litter. Thank you to all our volunteers for your dedicated efforts!

These cleanups do more than beautify our city. They help protect local waterways, improve neighborhood safety, and create cleaner, more welcoming public spaces for everyone.

Stay tuned for more Special Event Litter Cleanups happening throughout the year or lead your own cleanup with free litter supplies from Keep Fort Worth Beautiful.

Start the New Year
Right with Recycling

The holidays may be over, but the cleanup is not. After weeks of celebrations, gatherings, and gift-giving, many homes are left with extra boxes, bottles, and packaging. January is the perfect time to reset and make sure all that holiday excess is recycled the right way.

Set the tone for the year ahead and recycle right. Taking a few extra minutes helps keep valuable materials in use and supports a cleaner Fort Worth all year long.

As you sort through holiday items, remember:

• Only recycle paper, plastic, metal, and glass.
• Break down cardboard boxes and place them loose in your blue recycling cart.
• Do not put cardboard in yard waste or bulk waste piles.
• Remove plastic wrap, Styrofoam, and packing materials before recycling.
• Empty, clean, and dry containers to prevent contamination.

Not everything from the holidays belongs in the recycling cart. Shiny or glittery wrapping paper, string lights, cords, and food-soiled items should go in the brown garbage cart. If in doubt, use the Fort Worth Garbage & Recycling app or Waste Wizard to find the right disposal option.

Recycling right helps Fort Worth start the year cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable.

Learn more about recycling by visiting www.forworthtexas.gov/recycles.

New Year, New Habits –
Cease the Grease!

The new year is all about fresh starts but pouring grease down the drain can clog things up fast. Leftover fats, oils, and grease (FOG) may look harmless, but once they cool, they can stick to pipes and build up over time. The result? Clogged drains, sewer overflows, and messy, expensive problems to deal with.

There’s still time to Cease the Grease. Through Jan. 25, the City of Fort Worth is participating in the NCTCOG’s Holiday Grease Roundup. You can help protect your pipes and Fort Worth’s wastewater system by managing cooking grease the right way. Collect your FOG and bring them to one of the City’s four Drop-Off Stations or Environmental Collection Center. Last year, Fort Worth collected over 21,200 pounds of FOG. Let’s top that this year!

Simple Kitchen Habits That Make a Difference:

• Start by wiping greasy pans and plates into the trash.
• Collect cooled cooking grease and oil in a sealed container for easy transport.
• Leave sinks for water only—do not pour grease, oil and food scraps down drains.

Small changes in the kitchen make a big difference. Cease the Grease and help keep Fort Worth flowing smoothly all year long.

Learn more about proper grease disposal and drop-off locations at www.fortworthtexas.gov/dropoff.