news & announcements
Op-Ed: This new coastal alliance aims to protect South Texas’ natural gifts
Corpus Christi Caller-Times Op-Ed: The quality of life in the Coastal Bend now faces its greatest challenge. It has been targeted as fertile ground for an industrial build-out that will impact the entire region.
Travis County works to address lack of recycling receptacles at 26 area parks
Community Impact: Travis County staff will start the process of creating the solid-waste management plan that will provide a suggested timeline to expand recycling services.
Victory! Austin Parks Will Have Recycling
From our blog: Over the next two years every park, pool, rec center, cultural facility, sports field, and trail in the Austin will have recycling everywhere they have trash bins. Learn how support from YOU and thousands of Central Texans has made this huge victory possible!
Grand Prairie industrial site that leaked cancer-causing chemicals under homes gets Feds’ attention
Dallas Morning News: A Grand Prairie industrial site that leaked cancer-causing chemicals has been placed on the Superfund National Priorities List, which features some of the nation’s most polluted sites.
Report: Texas criteria for polluted site cleanup ‘significantly weaker’ than neighboring states
Texas Tribune: A new report says the standards Texas uses to determine how much — and whether — to clean up contaminated sites are ‘significantly weaker’ than those of neighboring states and the federal government.
Environmental groups speak out at hearing on Exxon air quality permit
KIIITV News: A hearing was held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Thursday aimed at finding out just how much opposition to the project there is.
Twisting Tale Toward a Zero Waste Houston
From our blog: Last week Houston City Council voted to hire a company that will help local officials create and adopt a long-range waste and recycling plan. This huge victory was years in the making, and it could put Houston on a path toward Zero Waste!
Op-Ed: Why Texas should ban plastic bags
Houston Chronicle Op-Ed: Plastic pollution is a serious problem. Let’s stop holding on so tightly to plastic bags — we’re better without them, and there’s no time like the present to act.
Starbucks is replacing plastic straws with ‘sippy cup’ lids
CBS Austin: Starbucks announced on Monday it’s getting rid of its instantly recognizable green plastic straws, which contribute to ocean pollution and can be dangerous to marine life.
Austin Says It Will No Longer Enforce Plastic Bag Ban, After Texas Supreme Court Ruling
KUT News Austin: The City of Austin says it will no longer enforce a ban on single-use plastic bags at most retail outlets, following a state Supreme Court ruling last month that struck down Laredo’s bag ban.