Recycling Totes Given to Schools via Green Bag Grants Just in Time for End of School Year Recycling

Students in Midland schools are enthusiastic about recycling! So Keep Midland Beautiful submitted a grant request to purchase classroom recycling totes to H.E.B. so students could recycle the mass of paper that goes through their schools - especially at the end of the school year. H.E.B. recently awarded KMB with $3000 to purchase recycling totes for 6 Midland schools. Those totes will be delivered on Tuesday, May 15th by H.E.B. partners and KMB staff and volunteers. The media is invited to attend the presentations of these totes at the following schools:

• Pease Elementary – presentation time 9:30 am
• Parker Elementary - presentation time 10:00 am
• Recycling totes will also be delivered to Burnet Elementary, South Elementary, Midland Freshman and Alamo Junior High tomorrow morning.

The funds for the Green Bag grant rewarded to KMB are raised when H.E.B. shoppers purchase a reusable shopping bag. 5 cents from each bag purchased go to a grant program overseen by Keep Texas Beautiful. Grant funds are distributed to KTB affiliates across the state thru the grant application process.

KMB and H.E.B. are excited about their partnership that makes the presentation of the recycling totes possible. Recycling is a priority for both groups, with H.E.B. providing a location for recycling containers at their parking lot locally, and the H.E.B. plastic bag recycling campaign. KMB and H.E.B. partner in other areas including litter prevention and beautification.

New Litter Fighting Tool

Texans now have a new tool to fight litter — a mobile app.

For years, the “Report A Litterer” program has allowed Texans to notify TxDOT via www.dontmesswithtexas.org when they witness trash being tossed out of vehicles. Now, there’s a new, free mobile app. For instance, with the single press of a button, the littering incident and type of trash are recorded via GPS.The new Don’t Mess with Texas app allows Texans to identify the litter they see as one of four prevalent types of trash: fast food; cigarette butts; cups, cans and bottles; and miscellaneous trash. The data is then compiled into a map that illustrates what’s being littered and where throughout Texas.

Don’t Mess with Texas Mobile App Safety Features

As a promoter of safe behavior on roadways, TxDOT has taken precautions to prevent distracted driving. When a user opens the app for the first time, the user is prompted with a reminder not to use the app while driving. Users cannot text or type into the app at any time — only tapping on the touch screen is allowed, and only one tap is needed to report litter.

Yellow Pages Opt-Out: Consumer Choice

Developed in partnership between the Local Search Association and the Association of Directory Publishers, www.YellowPagesOptOut.com provides an easy and secure way for residents to control the number of Yellow Pages telephone directories they receive or to stop directory delivery entirely. It is a completely free service and the Local Search Association encourages efforts by municipalities and community-based organizations to make consumers aware of this important option.

The Internet-based tool is specifically designed to prevent directories from being delivered to anyone who doesn't want one while ensuring that they are delivered to the majority of consumers who continue to rely upon and use the print Yellow Pages to make purchases supporting the local business community and economy. It is a significant and unified commitment on behalf of directory publishers of which the positive impacts are already being realized in many communities around the country.

As the industry's official Web site to manage requests, all Local Search Association and the Association of Directory Publishers member companies are committed to honoring requests made through the Opt-Out web portal. Information gathered through the site will not be sold to third-parties and will be used solely to update publishers' delivery information.

Simply go to www.YellowPagesOptOut.com, enter your zip code and follow the prompts to make your choice. Once complete, you will be sent a confirmation email. Click the link embedded in the email to confirm your request.

Citizens Collection Station: A great way to recycle!

The City of Midland's Citizens Collection Station is open for business! Located at 4100 Smith Road (north of Claydesta, just past the post office; phone 432.685.7278) the CCS is open Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There's no fee and the Station is open to all City of Midland residents.

Use the CCS to recycle aluminum, cardboard, paper, plastic, and metals. You can also dispose of yard waste, including branches, leaves, shrubs, small stumps, and grass clippings. The Station also accepts your large household and patio furniture and household appliances.

An added benefit is that free mulch is available (self-loaded only, and subject to availability).

Restrictions:
No commercial vehicles – No construction debris – No household trash
No contactors or businesses

Water Use Presentations

KMB wants to speak to as many groups as possible about the drought/lack of water in Midland and how Midlanders can deal with living with less water by giving free presentations. We would like to speak to your groups like Rotary, Church, youth and adult groups – any group that will benefit from this information.  Please call or email the office and give us a contact to call, or set a meeting up on your own. And thanks for allowing us to do this.

We have INDOOR water kits for adults, activity books for youth, and other items to share at these presentations. Thanks so much for helping us get the word out about the many ways everyone can cut back on water waste – and save money!

Keep Midland Beautiful Receives Lend-A-Bin Grants from Anheuser-Busch Foundation and Keep America Beautiful

Keep Midland Beautiful is proud to announce that recycling will be getting a boost at special events, concerts, festivals, school events and more, thanks to a new Lend-A-Bin Grant that is providing 30 recycling bins to our community.

The bins have already been used for September Fest, the MLK's grand re-opening, and Feast of Sharing. Any group can use these bins, schools, non-profit groups, churches to name a few. Individuals can also use these recycling bins for birthday parties, weddings, etc. They are easy to set-up and to take-down.

"This program is a great way for our community to recycle at their events. It allows groups, outdoor events and families to have containers when they need them" said Doreen Womack, Keep Midland Beautiful Executive Director. "We're thankful to the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and Keep America Beautiful for helping to increase recycling here in Midland."

Chosen from nearly 200 applications submitted, Keep Midland Beautiful received the grant based on a number of criteria including efficiency, planning, recycling experience, promotion, sustainability, amount of recyclables anticipated to be collected, and reach.

"We have a long history of encouraging the expansion of community recycling programs," said Shana Ruffus, director of environmental outreach for Anheuser-Busch. "The Foundation's support of the Lend-A-Bin program is just the latest example of Anheuser-Busch's overall commitment to promote consumer recycling. After all, this is our world and we all share a collective responsibility to help protect it for future generations."

For more information on using these bins, please call KMB at 432.687.7400. For more information on the national Lend-A-Bin Grants program, visit www.lendabingrant.org.

Tracking Midland's Water Usage

Beginning July 1, 2011 all Midland businesses and residents MUST comply with a mandatory outdoor watering program which is outlined in the City of Midland Drought Contingency Plan, Stage 2. Residents and businesses may only water outdoors two times per week. Outdoor watering is based on residents' physical address. Addresses ending in even numbers may only water on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. through Sunday at 10 a.m. and then again on Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. through Wednesday at 10 a.m. Addresses ending in odd numbers may only water on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. through Monday at 10 a.m. and then again on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. through Thursday at 10 a.m. To track how Midland is doing in their efforts to reduce water usage by 20 percent, visit the Colorado River Municipal Water District's website.

Windy Weather and Trash Don't Mix

Our West Texas winds are really blowing, so is the trash that has not been secured in a trash bag. Please be conscious of your trash and secure it in a tied trash bag and close the lid of the dumpster.

The only way trash can blow around during these windy times is because it has "escaped" from an untied trash bag or a dumpster with an open lid. Please close boxes too that litter has been disposed in (or better yet recycle your boxes and put the trash in a trash bag). Also, please don't throw trash in to your pickup bed; it will blow out.

Please help us stop trash that becomes litter...on windy days AND every day.

Recycling Locations [Updated 1/23/12]

Below find the new location of those containers and existing recycling locations.

Red = aluminum • White = cardboard • Blue = paper
Red, White and Blue = #1 and #2 plastics

RECYCLING LOCATIONS:

• City of Midland's Citizens Collection Station (4100 Smith Road – north of Claydesta). Aluminum, cardboard, paper, plastic, metals, yard waste, large household furniture and appliances. Visit this page for more details.
  
  
• Southside Wal-Mart has recycling containers for cardboard, paper and #1 and #2 plastics.
  
  
• Westlake/Albertson's has recycling containers for cardboard, aluminum, paper and #1 and #2 plastics.
  
  
• Chaparral Center parking lot at Midland College has recycling containers for cardboard, aluminum, paper and #1 and #2 plastics.
  
  
• Citibank Ballpark west side has recycling containers for cardboard and #1 and #2 plastics.
  
  
• H.E.B. has recycling containers for cardboard and #1 and #2 plastics.
  
  
• Super Mercado has a recycling container for cardboard.
  
  
• The recycling containers at the MISD Elementary schools remain in place.
  
  
• ALL recyclables can be taken to Butts Recycling Monday thru Saturday. They are located at 26 West Industrial Loop.

For more information call Doreen Womack at Keep Midland Beautiful at 687-7400 or 556-9949.

Free Computer Recycling for Texans!

Texans now have a free and easy way to recycle unwanted personal computers. Thanks to a 2008 state law, computer manufacturers are responsible for recycling the following:

• desktop and laptop computers;
  
  
• monitors (display devices without a tuner);
  
  
• the accompanying keyboard and mouse made by the same manufacturer.

Note: This program applies to personal and home-business computer equipment only. Manufacturers are responsible for recycling only their own brands.

Please visit TexasRecyclesComputers.org for more details, and email recycle@tceq.state.tx.us if you have questions.

Reminder: Recycling Left Outside of Containers can become Litter

Residents of Midland are enthusiastic about recycling! But some are taking it a bit too far. Items for recycling are being left OUTSIDE of the containers at some public recycling areas – and that can be considered littering. More...

Corporate Sponsors Page (Updated 9/7/10)

Keep Midland Beautiful is fortunate to have some wonderful corporate sponsors, and their generous assistance is greatly appreciated. Please visit our Sponsors webpage for links to those sponsors.

"Pick Up Some Trash To Pick Up Some Cash"

Now all non-profit organizations, churches and schools in Midland have a new fundraising project that will be sure to spark their interest! It's an easy way to make money for your group and take pride in your community!

Keep Midland Beautiful is all about keeping Midland a litter free community. Here is your chance to participate in a great project that will not only keep Midland litter free but will also help you reach your fundraising goals.

Here's how it works - the amount you can earn will be calculated by the number of people from your group participating in the cleanup and by the number of hours each participant works during the cleanup.

For instance, if 10 people clean for 3 hours each at $5.00 per hour that would equal $150. If 20 people clean for 4 hours each at $5.00 per hour that would equal $400.

Other details your group should know:

• Maximum amount of money to be earned per cleanup is $500.
• Each group is limited to 3 cleanups a year.
• Each group may only do 1 cleanup per month.

The areas to be cleaned will be chosen by Keep Midland Beautiful. Tax-exempt
non-profit Adopt-A-Spot groups are eligible to clean a different spot for these funds under this new program.

Each clean-up group will be provided with trash bags, gloves, vests and a camera for documentation.

Each group will be asked to take a picture that identifies the area that you are cleaning (a sign, etc.), take before and after pictures of your area, take pictures of your group cleaning and take pictures of bags piled up after your cleanup.

When you finish cleaning, all you have to do is notify KMB at 687-7400 with the location of the bags to be picked up, the number of people who cleaned the area and how many hours you cleaned. Please report this to Catarina at KMB so she can get the cash you're owed for your fundraiser right away!

To participate, call Catarina at Keep Midland Beautiful at 687-7400. Taking registrations now!!!

Adopt-A-Spot Program

Keep Midland Beautiful's Adopt-A-Spot program is a great way for your group to be involved in our community. Through participation in this program, your tax dollars are saved and Midland is kept clean and beautiful for our citizens and visitors.

Here's how it works. Organize a group of willing volunteers to clean an area of Midland at least two times each year (most groups do this during KMB's annual cleanups). Pick a public location close to your home, office, or meeting place, or ask KMB to help you pick a spot. A sign with your group name will be placed in your area. Then, designate a "leader," someone who is responsible for announcing cleanup dates, organizing volunteers, and getting the trash bags and gloves (supplied by KMB). Finally, get together to clean your area. You can remove litter and debris, plant trees and flowers, paint, etc.

Call Keep Midland Beautiful at 687.7400 to sign up or for more information.