A full page open letter with more than 700 signatures was recently released in UT's campus newspaper, The Daily Texan. The letter protests the sale of the single-use, disposable plastic water bottles in the shape of the UT Tower -- H2Orange. These polluting bottles are being marketed to students but they do not align with the school's own Sustainability Program. With an international movement to ban plastic water bottles from college campuses, UT's decision has left Longhorns at the back of the herd.
If you haven't signed the petition, click here to make your voice heard.
Protests Continue Against H2Orange Bottles
A handful of people with signs were out protesting the new H2Orange water bottles on campus on the first day of the semester. The bottles are recyclable but some are worried they will end up in landfills. (KUT News Austin)
Lone Star State of Recycling
Radio: TCE Program Director Zac Trahan hosts a KPFT Community Spotlight to speak on improving recycling in Houston and throughout Texas. Two City of Houston recycling offcials join as guests - click here to listen! (KPFT Radio Houston)
GAO Report Misses the Mark with Recommendation on Basel Convention
Congress released a Government Accountability office (GAO) report yesterday - Electronic Waste: Considerations for Promoting Environmentally Sound Reuse and Recycling – that seeks to address the management and trade of hazardous electronic wastes. (Electronics TakeBack Coalition)
TCE Applauds Approval of a Short-term Recycling Contract
As the Texas Campaign for the Environment Executive Director, I applaud the City Council and Solid Waste Services Department on the short-term recycling contract passed unanimously this morning. (Texas Campaign for the Environment)
Houstonians: Attend the Environmental Town Hall
TCE is helping organize a Town Hall Meeting to win big improvements to our state environmental agency. Several Houston elected officials will be present -- we need you to come and speak out for clean air, water and public health!
More details here:
September 15, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
UH Downtown: One Main Street, 101-S, Houston TX
Speak out on toxic coal ash: Public hearing September 8th
Under current environmental laws, coal-fired power plant operators are allowed to literally go out back and dump toxic coal ash wherever and however they please on their own property. Now, the U.S. EPA is finally considering having coal plants clean up this mess. We need you to send your letter and attend the public hearing to make your voice heard.
Click here to send your letter.
Click here for meeting details!
Wednesday, September 8th
Come anytime, 10am - 9pm
Hyatt Regency, 300 Reunion Boulevard, Dallas TX
More Americans recycle than vote, but in many Texas communities recycling is lagging in part because some landfill operators cut corners and undercut recycling programs. In addition, too few products are designed for recycling. Requiring manufacturers to take back their products at the end of their useful lives will provide a bottom line incentive to reduce toxins and design products for recycling. read more
