Upcoming Keep Tyler Beautiful Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room
315 N. Broadway Ave. Downtown Tyler, Texas

For more information on Keep Tyler Beautiful projects or how to get involved, call (903) 531-1348 or click here to email.

Become a Committee Member! Choose from the following:

Recycling--Jess Hall, Committee Chair
Education--Vicki Rowe, Committee Chair
Beautification--Marjorie Mustard and Eloise Muxworthy, Committee Co-Chairs
Litter Prevention and Cleanup --Susan Lucido, Committee Chair
Public Awareness

Event Planning:
Living Green Symposium, Texas Trash Off, Lake and River Cleanup, Recycles Day, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Day for Kids, Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Tyler Recycling Collection Center	Tyler Curbside Recycling

Adopt A Street, Park or Spot
Your family, group or organization can adopt a street, park or spot.
Keep Tyler Beautiful will work with the Group to determine the specific section of the City street right-of-way to be adopted. Keep Tyler Beautiul will erect a sign at the adopted area with the Group’s name or acronyms displayed. Keep Tyler Beautiul will provide safety vests, trash bags, portable traffic control signs, a first aid kit and safety literature. Tyler Solid Waste will remove the filled trash bags the first workday after the pickup.

If you would like to adopt an area please donwload this form and mail to Keep Tyler Beautiful.

Keep Tyler Beautiful hosts Tyler Recycles Day
November 14, 2009
418 N. Bois D’Arc Ave.

Keep Tyler Beautiful is hosting Tyler Recycles Day from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Tyler Recycling Collection Center, 418 N. Bois D’Arc Ave. This year’s theme is “It all comes back to you,” with an emphasis on efforts to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rebuy.

“If you have never recycled or been to the Recycling Center before, this event will be a great opportunity to meet others who recycle and ask any question that you might have,” said Jessica Hall, Tyler Recycles Day chair.

Citizens are encouraged to bring their recyclables to the center and have a pancake fold over, free Starbucks coffee and play games focused on being a good steward of the environment. All children who attend will receive free prizes and fun educational materials from Keep Tyler Beautiful.

The Tyler Recycling Collection Center will be accepting:

· Aluminum cans;

· #1 plastic, such as water and soda bottles;

· #2 plastic, such as milk jugs and detergent bottles;

· Newspapers, magazines and junk mail;

· Any type of paper;

· Any type of cardboard and paperboard;

· Brown paper grocery bags;

· Clear, brown and green glass;

· Phonebooks;

· Cell phones to be donated to the Caldwell Zoo;

· Eyeglasses to be donated to the Tyler Lions Club; and,

· Electronics to be donated to Goodwill Industries. Goodwill guarantees data removal of all hard drives based upon the Department of Defense Standards and Guidelines and then refurbishes or disassembles the electronics.

“Recycling not only decreases the amount of garbage thrown away each year, but it also conserves natural resources and saves energy,” said Ms. Hall. “Join us as we celebrate our community’s growing effort to recycle. In the end it all comes back to you.”

For more information visit www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com or call Kristi Boyett, City of Tyler special projects coordinator, at (903) 531-1348.

Compost Your Organic Waste!

To purchase a compost bin come to the Tyler Solid Waste Department at 414 N. Bois D'Arc Ave. in downtown Tyler. The cost is $43.30 which includes tax.

Each Complete Composter is equipped with a unique aerator feature, or chimney, to speed the composting process and provide maximum aerobic efficiency. This bin is made in the USA and comes complete with an informative "How to Compost" brochure.

While even small composters are often awkward and unsightly, the Shepherd Complete Composter is easily handled and blends into the backyard environment. The compost bin capacity is generous for most families but bins can be easily joined (no additional hardware or accessories necessary) for added space. Manufactured from highly corrosion resistant PVC coated welded wire, the Complete Composter is virtually indestructible and will withstand many years of exposure to the elements.

Dimensions: 42" X 42"

What can go in my compost bin?

leaves
grass
pine needles
weeds
wood chips raw and cooked meats
vegetable peelings
crushed egg shells
tea bags
coffee grounds

FREE Bulky Item Collection Weeks
Twice a year, City of Tyler Residential Customers can get rid of bulky items such as unwanted furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four noncommercial vehicle tires, old toys and other large items that would normally require a special fee for FREE. Brush is not accepted as part of this program.

Bulky items that will be picked up for FREE include:

Furniture and Mattresses
Appliances and Electronics
Carpet
Fence Material
Up to 4 Noncommercial Vehicle Tires
Car Batteries
Old Toys

Other large items that would normally require a special fee.

Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter.

Brush and liquid waste are NOT accepted.

What is the Great American Cleanup™?

Millions of Volunteers Cleaning, Beautifying and Improving The Quality Of Life In Communities Across America Every March 1 through May 31! Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup™ (GAC) is the nation’s largest community improvement program, built on a foundation of individual responsibility and civic pride. In 2006, the program mobilized over 2 million volunteers in 15,000+ communities from coast to coast in a total of over 30,000 community improvement events… targeting areas of greatest need and got the job done! Great American Cleanup™ activities improve the quality of life in each participating community.
What happens during the GAC?
Keep Tyler Beautiful, as an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful, brings the GAC to Tyler through events and programs. At the end of the GAC we report our improvements and volunteer hours to Keep America Beautiful. Activities may include: litter clean-ups; recycling; graffiti removal; building restoration; school and community playground renovation/construction; community improvement & beautification (e.g. Adopt-A-Spot); park clean-up; roadway clean-up & beautification; litter-free events; and special promotions.

What are Tyler's GAC events?
March 19-April 4, 2010       Azalea Trails
March 26-27, 2010             Main Street Flower Market at the Goodman Museum LeGrand Gardens
Spring 2010                          Neighborhood Empowerment Works Program
April 10, 2010                       Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off, Rose Rudman Park, 9 a.m. to Noon
April 18, 2010                       Earth Day at Camp Tyler, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 22, 2010                       40th Anniversary of Earth Day!
April 24, 2010                       Earth Day at Caldwell Zoo
May 1, 2010                          Master Gardeners Spring Home Garden Tour
May 9, 2010                         Komen Race for the Cure (Litter Free Event)

Beauty and Business Award

Taking another step to grow community pride in Tyler, Keep Tyler Beautiful is recognizing businesses in the community for their improvement, upkeep, cleanliness and beautification efforts. The Board presents a “Beauty and the Business” award certificate and yard sign to a business each quarter.

“Awarding those who keep their property beautiful and clean will motivate others in the city to do the same,” said Eloise Muxworthy, Keep Tyler Beautiful chair. “We know that community beautification takes the cooperation of all residents of Tyler.”

Board members examine different aspects of the business, such as:

· Store front is inviting with use and upkeep of greenery, such as grass, trees, shrubs and/or flowers along with benches, trash cans and/or chairs.

· Parking area is litter free.

· Store front has attractive signs.

· Dumpster and trash areas are clean and tidy.

· Old, unused bulky items are not stored around or behind the store i.e. equipment, furniture, supplies.

· Building front is in good shape with clean paint or bricks.

Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off
Rose Rudman Park
April 10, 2010
meet at the pavilion at 8:45 a.m.

Texas is a big state, so help clean up a little piece of it by joining Keep Tyler Beautiful at the Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off at Rose Rudman Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 10.

“We usually see around 200 people at this cleanup but this is our 5th annual event so we are hoping to get 500 volunteers,” said Eloise Muxworthy, KTyB chair. “

Organizations, businesses, citizens and children are invited to come out and pick up litter in the park and along the creek bed to improve water quality, restore natural beauty and reduce potential threats to human health and wildlife.

Rose Rudman Park runs along South Donnybrook Avenue between Loop 323 and Rieck Road. Volunteers will meet at the pavilion south of Shiloh Road at 8:45 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear insect repellent and sun block. Trash bags, gloves and litter collection tools will be provided along with a special gift for each volunteer. After the litter has been tackled, all helping hands will be treated to free lunch provided by Chick-Fil-A and will have a chance to win one of more than 20 prizes.

Each year, litter decreases water quality, blocks storm drains, reduces aesthetic appeal, and kills thousands of animals through ingestion or entanglement. The Rose Rudman Creek Cleanup is supported by the Texas Waterway Cleanup Program, a partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This event is also part of Keep America Beautiful’s 2010 Great American Cleanup

America’s leading companies and brands support this program. The National Sponsors of the 2010 Great American Cleanup are: The Dow Chemical Company; The Glad Products Company; Nestlé® Pure Life® Purified Water; o.b.® tampons; Pepsi-Cola Company; The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Solo Cup Company; Troy-Bilt® Lawn and Garden Equipment; Waste Management, Inc.; Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company; Promotional Partners: Crescent Art and Framing Products and Get Green Racing; and Educational Partner: Rubber Manufacturers Association.

For more information or to register your family or group, please email Solid Waste or call Keep Tyler Beautiful at (903) 531-1348.

The Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off is is the single largest one day cleanup event in the state where more than 55,000 volunteers offer their time to keep our state beautiful. This event is part of the partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Department of Transportation.

The Texas Trash-Off is also the signature litter prevention event of the Great American Cleanup™, which is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful and takes place throughout the United States March through May.

Household Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is any product labeled: toxic, poison, corrosive, flammable, combustible or irritant. Materials that will be accepted at the event include: chemicals, household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, latex and oil based paints, thinners, any type of battery, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, old medications, mercury thermometers, aerosols, fluorescent bulbs, nail polish, polish remover, lighter fluid and glues.

A typical home can contain a vast array of household hazardous products used for cleaning, painting, beautifying, lubricating and disinfecting the house, yard, workshop and garage. The chemical-based household products from a single home may seem insignificant; but, when combined with thousands of homes across East Texas the effect becomes a major problem.

Many people have hazardous waste items sitting in their garage because they don’t know how to properly dispose of them.