Blog - Keep Austin Beautiful

Commercial Composting: A Hot Topic

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo August 29, 2017

The 2017-2018 school year has kicked off this week for students across Austin ISD. That means fresh school supplies, new students, and more opportunities for hands-on learning! At Keep Austin Beautiful, we are especially jazzed about one of the newest policies going into effect this school year: commercial composting for every middle and high school in the district. While this has already been in place at AISD elementary schools, this school year marks the first opportunity for district-wide commercial composting at its secondary schools.

Spring Highlights from the Creeks

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo May 8, 2017

With temperatures on the rise, Austinites are starting to think about ways to cool off at their favorite swimming spots. While for most of us local creeks are a reprieve from the heat, Keep Austin Beauitful’s Adopt-a-Creek leaders are busy all year long thinking about ways to improve our local waterways. Over 100 groups remove litter, track creek health, restore the riparian ecosystems throughout the year, and the heat won’t be stopping them from planning future projects.

5 Easy Steps for Clean Sweep Site Leadership

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo March 16, 2017

As a former Clean Sweep and Lady Bird Lake Leader, April was one of my favorite times of year. I would lament when I missed a cleanup at my site, mostly because I would miss meeting all the wonderful people who came out to help. While it has been a number of years since I proudly donned my Clean Sweep shirt as a leader, I’d like to share what my experience was like in hopes of inspiring others to wear the t-shirt of honor for 2017.

Eagle Scout supports Beautify Austin at Paredes Middle School

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo January 19, 2017

Anthony Hall is one of 2.25 million.

If that doesn’t sound impressive, it’s because you don’t have full story. Anthony is an Eagle Scout, a rank awarded to 2.25 million young men since 1912. Over the course of the more than 100 years since the title was first awarded, only 4 percent of men who were Boy Scouts have completed the rigorous requirements to join the ranks of this elite group of 2.25 million.

Green Teens get “To Know the Dark”

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo December 16, 2016

Dinosaur Valley State Park is known for its dinosaur tracks, but the Green Teens from Travis High School got to know its incredible night sky, learn about nocturnal animals, and experiment with night photography. Truly taking time “To Know the Dark”.

Lost and Found in the Austin Greenbelt

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo December 2, 2016

Guest blog by Jolyn Janis

Lost and Found

This project began one morning on a casual hike down from the Scottish Woods Trail entrance of the Austin Greenbelt. I lifted my camera to shoot a gorgeous waterfall scenery. At the bottom of my shot was a water bottle and a crushed red canister of Pringles chips that someone had left. I raised my camera, annoyed that this trash was in the view.

Innovating and Problem Solving for the Future: Burnet Middle School

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo November 30, 2016

They might be a couple years shy of 16, but the Green Teens at Burnet Middle School know plenty about cars—solar cars, that is. The students built and tested their own solar cars as a hands-on way to learn about renewable energy, one of the many topics they explored in their weekly Green Team meetings with their teacher, Hector Hernandez.

Small Business, Big Impact. Litter Abatement Award Winner: Capital Cruises

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo November 14, 2016

It’s not quite enough to say Lady Bird Lake is an Austin icon, because Austin simply wouldn’t be Austin without it. The lake is an inescapable part of being an Austinite—it’s where we go for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. It’s the heart of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and the home to the world-famous South Congress bat colony. It’s one of the city’s most visited sites, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.

Mike Valescu: Professional Volunteer and Award Winner

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo November 10, 2016

Meet Mike Valescu, professional volunteer, with over 23 years in the industry. He is an expert in volunteering around Austin, especially with Keep Austin Beautiful. If you’ve joined us for Clean Sweep, volunteered to mulch around Mable Davis Park, or participated in a custom service project with your coworkers, most likely you have worked with Mike.

Less talk, more action: Jaime Rodriguez, Youth Achievement Award Winner

BlogBy Sarita Alonzo November 8, 2016

“Less talking and more doing,” are words of wisdom from Jaime Rodriguez. Many people may spend their entire lives trying to live by this motto. Yet, Jaime a senior at Lanier High School not only subscribes to it, but puts it into practice.

Counting the ways he models being a Keep Austin Beautiful Green Teen at his school would be exhausting. While most kids his age are navigating being a teenager, Jaime was busy contributing over 75 hours to green-themed service projects and activities last year.