After you’ve enjoyed your deep fried Thanksgiving turkey, you have probably wondered what to do with the gallons of accompanying grease. While it may seem harmless to pour your used oil down the drain, or try and stash it in the garbage, dumping any amount of cooking oil can damage your local sewage systems and harm wildlife. The solution? Recycle it!
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We regret to inform you that the 3R Recycling Drive Thru Event, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023, has been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We will keep you updated on the new date of the event, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, you can visit our Recycle More Guide (http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/recyclemore) to explore alternative options for recycling your items before the event takes place.
Thank you for your understanding.
Every year The Woodlands celebrates America Recycles Day, one dedicated to promoting waste diversion nationwide, with the 3R Recycling Drive Thru. But did you know that America Recycles Day started right here in Texas?! Two employees at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) proposed the idea to encourage Texans to increase the state recycling rate. When they moved on from TCEQ, their legacy inspired a larger recycling movement and the day was turned into a nationwide holiday. From its start in 1997, America Recycles Day continues to encourage us to consider how we dispose of waste and be conscious about what we buy.
Come celebrate with us at the 3R Recycling Drive Thru Special Collection Event. This is a unique opportunity to recycle items you can’t put in your curbside cart. Last year, over 500 households brought their items to the Drive Thru and kept over 30,000 pounds of waste out of landfill! Join us on Saturday, November 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Woodlands High School Parking Lot (6101 Research Forest Dr).
Please bring only the following items:
Please bag or box items separately by category and place them in your trunk or back seat for safe access by volunteers who will do all the unloading for you! Residents only, no businesses.
Can’t make it to 3R or don’t want to wait for an annual Drive-Thru? The items we’re accepting can be recycled year-round. A full list of local partners for items such as Styrofoam, electronics, lightbulbs, batteries, and more is always available in the Recycle More Guide.
For event updates and more information, contact The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department at 281-281-3800 or visit http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/3Rdrivethru
Questions or comments? Email enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
Did you know in 2020, Keep America Beautiful estimated that there were 152 pieces of litter for each U.S. resident each year? Gather up your family and friends and help Keep The Woodlands Beautiful! GreenUp Fall Sweep is a self-guided litter clean-up week from October 29th to November 4th. No registration needed, just choose a day to clean up along a pathway, waterway, or natural area near you.
Get a group together and enjoy the fall weather while keeping our community clean and green. You can borrow litter grabbers and vests from the Environmental Services Office at 8203 Millennium Forest Drive. We can also provide gloves and bags; please call 281-210-2058 to schedule a pickup so we can have your supplies ready.
Next, choose a place in the community that could use some sprucing up. Parks, pathways and green spaces by shopping centers, businesses, churches, schools, and waterways always need cleaning. Look closely at tree lines to spot litter that may be hiding under leaves and brush.
If you encounter any large or hazardous items, use the Township 311 App or call 281-210-3800 during normal business hours to report it. Once you’ve finished your litter cleanup, dispose of full bags at home or in a park trash can. Don’t overstuff park trash receptacles as this can lead to more litter. Make sure you tie your trash bags tightly to protect sanitation workers. Share your success by posting a photo on social media using the hashtag #KeepTheWoodlandsBeautiful
We recommend wearing long pants, closed-toe shoes, hats, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and bringing a reusable water bottle to keep your crew protected and hydrated. Use gloves when picking up trash and wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer when you are done.
Be aware of wildlife you may come across, including snakes. Observe from a distance and disturb tall grass or bushes with a stick before entering to scare off wildlife. Know what poisonous plants are and try to avoid them. Poison ivy is common along pathways and inside tree lines. Touching leaves and roots can cause a painful rash. Remember the rule, leaves of three, leave it be!
All litter, big and small, is not only unsightly, it has serious environmental consequences that can be prevented. This is particularly true when litter ends up in our waterways, where it can leach chemicals and clog storm drains. Please dispose of waste properly, educate or report those seen littering and start the habit of picking it up when you see it.
For questions, comments or to reserve contact enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or call 281-210-3800.
Earth Day is an annual celebration on April 22nd to promote environmental awareness. The first Earth Day was in 1970 which started the modern environmental movement. A long-lasting tradition of The Woodlands Township is the annual celebration of Earth Day. This celebration includes the GreenUp litter cleanup event back this past March. This year 611 community volunteers removed over 1,100 lbs of litter!
Coming up on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, from 10 am – 1 pm is the Woodlands Township Earth Day Festival at Northshore Park. Bring your family and friends to celebrate mother earth with fun and educational activities. Enjoy live entertainment, face painting, games, educational displays, and meet organizations that celebrate earth day every day.
Whether you’re outside participating in the Iron Man this weekend or prefer to stay home, The Woodlands Township has many programs and resources to help you celebrate Earth Day. Here are 8 ways to celebrate Earth Day year-round!
Conserving water saves energy, and using less water keeps more in our ecosystems. There are many ways to conserve water from taking shorter showers, turning off the water while you brush your teeth or installing drip irrigation in your garden. Drip irrigation delivers water to your plants right where they need it most- the roots. Learn how to install a simple system yourself at this free workshop Saturday, May 20 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Register Today to save your place.
Planting trees has many environmental benefits and can improve the quality of life of the community. Every February, the Woodlands Township hosts an annual community tree planting event. Learn more about the Community Tree Planting Event on the Woodlands Township website. The Woodlands Township hosts an Annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway to encourage residents to help reforest our community. If you don’t want to wait until Arbor Day, read the Environmental Services Department Native Trees article to learn the best way to plant a tree and ensure it thrives.
Reducing waste is one of the many things you can do to help lessen your carbon footprint. Read the Recycle-More-Guide to see what and where to recycle beyond the curbside cart! Or save your hard-to-recycle items for the 3R Drive Thru. This special collections day in November gives you the opportunity to drop off items you’re not able to put in your curbside cart.
One way to reduce the amount of waste in landfills is to compost. The Woodlands Township offers free backyard composting classes every year in the spring and fall. If you are interested in trying this at home, you can buy a compost bin from Environmental Services anytime. Learn more about The Woodlands Township Composting Resources here. Last October, The Woodlands Township had its first Pumpkin Smash Event. It was a Smashing success and a great way for residents to dispose of their pumpkins in an environmentally friendly manner. Find out details on the Woodlands Township Calendar.
You can make a difference starting in your own backyard. The Woodlands Township has many programs, workshops, seminars, and volunteer opportunities available to help support your local wildlife. National Pollinator Week is right around the corner, with spring in full bloom there are many ways you can support our native pollinators. Planting native milkweed or nectar-producing plants is a great way to support habitats and encourage pollinators to stop by! Additional resources are in the Environmental Services Blog. Invasive species take over the environment and cause harm to the stability of ecosystems. Join the Woodlands Township Invasive Species Task Force to help.
Keep the community clean by picking up litter in our public spaces. The Woodlands Township has trash grabbers, gloves, and trash bags available to be picked up by appointment. Also, the Earth Day GreenUp, a community clean-up event takes place every March, and again in September. Both the GreenUp and GreenUp Fall Sweep information can be found on the Woodlands Township website If you’re interested in keeping the Woodlands free of litter Adopt-A-Path is a year-round program that you can apply to join. Additional information can be found on the Adopt-A-Path webpage.
Going outdoors and educating yourself about the wonders of nature is a wonderful way to appreciate the earth. The Woodlands Township has two upcoming events that are great opportunities to learn about nature. The Great Texas Birding Classic will be held on April 29th, at the George Mitchell Nature Preserve. This event is a bird-watching competition across Texas, and the Woodlands Township has a registered team. More information about this event is on the calendar listing. If you can’t attend the Great Texas Birding Classic, we have birding backpacks available to rent year-round for those interested in birding! Make a reservation here
Another event coming up is the Bioblitz during Pollinator Week. It is a two-part event, starting June 19 through June 25 is the week-long community effort to identify as many species as possible through the iNaturalist App. Then join the in-person event on Saturday, June 24th at Rob Flemming to continue the search in person and visit the BioBooth. Read about BioBlitz on The Woodlands Township website.
There are many benefits to gardening, it improves the quality of air in the soil, provides habitat and cover for pollinators, and adds to the aesthetic of the environment. The Woodlands Township provides two home gardening classes, one in the spring and one in the fall which is coming up on August 21st, you can register here. The Woodlands Township administers community gardens, if you’re interested in a garden plot call the Environmental Services department and ask to be connected to the community garden coordinator.
There are many ways to celebrate earth day year-round. Some of those include finding ways to conserve water, planting trees, recycling and composting to reduce waste, supporting local wildlife, picking up litter, and gardening. The Woodlands Township has multiple resources to help you on your journey to becoming more environmentally friendly and connecting with your community. If you have any questions, visit The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Website or search the online library for your favorite topics.
The best gifts come in sustainable packages!
Approximately 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is produced in the U.S. each year with 2.3 million pounds ending up in the landfill.
Holiday wrapping paper is often coated in plastic or foil causing it to be non-recyclable. If the wrapping paper is metallic, has glitter on it, or has a texture to it, it is not recyclable. Gift wrap mistakenly put in the recycling cart harms the value of other collected paper at the recycling center.
Beautiful paper like these: glitter, metallic, textured and reversible are NOT recyclable gift wrap.
If it feels like plain paper, not slick or wax coated, or is made from recycled paper, then it’s a wrapping paper that can be recycled. Another way to test recyclability is to crush the paper into a ball. If it stays bunched up, it is likely recyclable.
An eco-friendly gift is thoughtful for the recipient and the planet! Check out these tips for a greener holiday.
If the holiday rush has you hustling and there’s no time for crafting, consider purchasing a reusable alternative. Fabric gift wraps, nice tea towels, scarves and bandannas make excellent choices.
For wrapping boxes, try using found newspaper or purchasing wrapping paper made with recycled content. Really get in to the recycling spirit with these two simple crafts and make your own gift box or hand-made bow this holiday season.
Cut your paper into nine strips, each ¾ of an inch wide. Next, measure and cut the length. You’ll need three strips that are 11” long, three strips that are 10” long, two strips that are 9” long and 1 strip that is 3 1/2” long.
Using one strip of paper at a time, twist each end toward the center until they meet in the middle and create a loop. Secure the ends in place with double-sided tape. Repeat with the remaining eight strips, with the exception of the 3 ½” inch strip; loop that one into a circle.
Start with the three longest strips of paper and begin stacking in descending order by size; largest on the bottom. Secure each loop in place with tape. Finish with the circle loop in the center. Attach your bow on top of your gift wrapped in recyclable paper.
Turn any recycled card stock into a gift box. Find old record covers, cereal boxes, or old shipping boxes and make a custom box for a loved one.
Trim two pieces of card stock into a square that is 12” wide and long.
For the top: Draw a line 2” wide on each side. For the bottom: Draw a line 2 ¼” wide on each side. Press firmly to score lines but not too hard or you might cut or tear the cardstock. See image below.
Cut alternating flaps as marked on the image below. Fold along all four scored lines on each piece of card stock. Use glue or tape to secure each corner flap inside the longer, side piece of the box.
Once glue dries or the corners are secured with tape, you have a custom, upcycled box to fill with a special gift for friends, family or the holiday gift swap at the office.
