Amarillo to celebrate Earth Day with cleanups, activities, more Saturday
With Saturday being Earth Day, several local groups are contributing in various ways to help clean up the area, be environmentally conscious and recognize the day with events and activities.
Clean up: Help Amarillo celebrate Earth Day
The City of Amarillo is celebrating Earth Day by helping provide residents a way to clean up their city. On Saturday, the city is providing roll-off containers across Amarillo for trash and waste.
“This is a great way for the community to celebrate Earth Day,” said City Director of Public Works Donny Hooper in a news release. “The goal is to make Amarillo cleaner and safer by making it convenient to dispose of trash and waste. We hope all of Amarillo participates.”
The city is placing roll-off containers at the following locations:
Memorial Park, 2501 S. Washington St.
S.E. 12th Ave. and Ross Street
Federal Avenue and Ross Street
S.W. 5th Ave. and Parker Street
All Amarillo Public Library locations: www.amarillolibrary.org/about-us/hours-locations
Roll-off containers are for residential use only. Commercial waste can be disposed of at the city landfill.
In addition, the city's Parks and Recreation Department will host an Earth Day Clean-Up at Thompson Park from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The event begins at the Amarillo Zoo.
For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov .
Keep Amarillo Clean Earth Day Cleanup
Keep Amarillo Clean Earth Day Cleanup will also be held in various neighborhoods around schools on Earth Day, Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.
"A reminder to all of us that we can create a brighter future for generations to come!" a Facebook post by the nonprofit reads. "All it takes is for every family to pick up at least one kitchen bag of litter."
A flyer distributed in the area reads: "Dear parents and students, We have litter problem in the Texas panhandle area and it is exacerbated by winds. We can solve this problem if every family picks up at least one tall kitchen bag of litter from their elementary school neighborhoods. Let’s work together to make a difference for our planet. Bring your friends, family and neighbors to participate on Earth Day. Together, we can create a brighter future forgenerations to come."
The Woodlands Neighborhood Cleanup was held the previous weekend ahead of Earth Day on Saturday, April 15.
For more information, visit the Keep Amarillo Clean Facebook Page or email keepamarilloclean@gmail.com .
Market Street teams up with Amarillo ISD’s Wolflin Elementary
Market Street has teamed up with Wolflin Elementary students to send an Earth Day message through artwork. The student’s bags will be distributed to guests on Earth Day at Market Street at 2530 S. Georgia in Amarillo.
In the days leading up to Earth Day, United Supermarkets, Amigos and Market Street made paper bags available to students across Amarillo. Students were encouraged to decorate the bags with art inspired by the environmentally friendly holiday.
On Earth Day, the United Family reminds guests that the simple act of using reusable bags instead of single-use plastic bags can make a big difference for the environment. In the United States alone, nearly 100 billion plastic bags are used each year, with the average person using between 350 and 500, according to ReuseThisBag.com. From landfills to oceans, these bags end up in many places they don’t belong.
At all United Family store locations, guests are incentivized to replace their plastic bags with reusable bags for a discount of 5 cents per reusable bag at checkout. While that may not seem like a lot, it adds up over time — just like the positive impact of using the bag itself. In addition to the reusable grocery bags, The United Family has begun offering reusable produce bags as well. These also count towards the 5-cent discount. Guests can even use their own reusable bags when getting curbside groceries through StreetSide.
In addition to the reusable bag incentive, the United Family has been committed to making sustainability a big part of their daily mission. In the last three years alone, the company has recycled more than 3 million pounds of plastic, more than 54 thousand pounds of cardboard and reused more than 850 thousand wooden pallets. The United Family also uses 100 percent LED lighting at its distribution center and in dozens of its stores – with a goal to convert all stores in the future.
Wildcat Bluff Nature Center celebrates Earth Day with public event
Wildcat Bluff Nature Center is celebrating Earth Day this year with a public event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Friends from the Amarillo Zoo, the Panhandle Archaeological Society, and the Texas Master Naturalists will each bring activities. Members of the Astronomy Club are bringing solar scopes and the Wild Hanbury's will bring animals for guests to meet and interact with. Info on insects from around the world and material on animal conservation will also be there to learn about with amateur entomologist and wildlife conservationist Kathy Guerrero.
This event is included in general admission, WBNC membership, or DHDC's Wildcat Bluff membership add-on.
Follow The Discovery Center and Wildcat Bluff Nature Center on Facebook and Instagram for more information on community programs.
Xcel Energy: Efficiency saves resources, lowers bills
With Earth Day coming up on Saturday, Xcel Energy is reminding customers that using electricity more wisely not only conserves the region’s natural resources but is an effective way of lowering monthly bills.
“Using electricity more efficiently is one of the most impactful actions any of us can take to protect the natural environment, and the beauty of energy efficiency is that we can also save money without sacrificing reliability and comfort,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “We’re doing our part by investing in a cleaner, more efficient electric system and we’re making it easier for our customers to do the same in their homes and businesses.”
In both Texas and New Mexico, residential customers can access energy efficiency services provided by approved contractors at no cost. These contractors will test for air leaks around doors and windows and make basic upgrades to seal the home against the elements. Because heating and cooling make up close to half the annual electricity costs for typical customers, these improvements can noticeably reduce monthly bills. The cost of these services is shared by all customers through a small monthly charge, so no additional fees are required at the time the services are rendered.
“The contractors may provide additional efficiency upgrades if a customer is interested in paying for the extra services, but there is no obligation to do so,” said Derek Wood, Xcel Energy product portfolio manager.
A list of approved efficiency contractors and information on Home Energy Services can be accessed at xcelenergyefficiency.com.
Xcel Energy’s incentives for business customers are based on estimated energy savings from efficiency upgrades, whether focused on lighting, heating or cooling. Xcel Energy uses approved contractors to guide customers through the retrofit process and verify the potential savings from investing in, for example, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. Information on Xcel Energy’s incentives for business customers can be found on the Business Savings page at xcelenergy.com.
In addition to these programs, Xcel Energy offers tips for using electricity wisely and saving money at itsEnergy Saving Tips page at xcelenergy.com.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo to celebrate Earth Day with cleanups, activities, more
