Disclaimer :: This post is sponsored by The Reverse Litter program, funded by the Tarrant Regional Water District and the cities of Fort Worth, Denton, and Dallas. The following comments are Elizabeth’s own thoughts and feelings.
Keeping the Pledge
Last month, I had the opportunity to write about my initial experience with the Reverse Litter Program and their Ten on Tuesday pledge. It really opened my eyes to the “accidental” litter left all over our parks, streets, parking lots, and worse — our water ways. Not a day goes by that I don’t keep this pledge close to my heart — double checking that the gas receipt makes it into my wallet, the life-saving Route 44 Cherry Limeade cup gets thrown all the way into the trashcan outside of Target, and that all of my brood’s toddler debris comes back home with us after we visit the park.
As any mom can attest, keeping a plan can be difficult. Some days it can seem downright impossible if there’s that perfect mix of nap rejection, spills, scrapes, and a scratched Dinosaur Train DVD that won’t play their favorite scene. Sometimes things are inevitably left off the to-do list to preserve the peace, but some things are non-negotiables around our home: Momma is going to finish her coffee (however many visits to the microwave it takes), and we go to the park on Tuesdays to do our part to keep Fort Worth beautiful.
Making the Ten on Tuesday pledge an unwavering aspect of my family’s weekly schedule is important because so are the lakes, rivers, streams, and other waterways in North Texas. According to ReverseLitter.com, the storm drains along our streets simply direct rainwater — and any pieces of garbage, pollutants, or chemicals the rain grabs on its way — into the nearest body of water. The lonely Go Go SqueeZ pouch you see nestled amongst the rocks in your neighborhood creek didn’t necessarily come from someone tossing it in there. It could have easily been left behind at a picnic, and then washed into the storm drain after a storm.
Why It Matters
The summer is a great time to make the Ten on Tuesday pledge because there is no other season that showcases water — clean, beautiful, delicious water — quite like it. Many of us will take a vacation and stare out into the vast ocean, feeling the frothy waves make their way to our sandy toes. Or enjoy the beautiful open spaces along the Trinity River from Panther Island, Trinity Park, or the Trailhead at Clearfork. Water is a precious commodity, and each of us can do our small part once a week to keep it clean.
According to ReverseLitter.com, “Keeping clean water flowing into our homes and businesses means keeping our waterways clean. It’s extremely important because all of our creeks drain into the Trinity River – the main source of drinking water for millions of Texans, including us.”
And as all of you lucky enough to have experienced a Fort Worth summer know, NOTHING is more important than clean drinking water — and plenty of it! Get excited to start the pledge TODAY, because this is the only day of the year that the 10th falls on a Tuesday!
A Family Adventure
My two-year-old twin boys live for an adventure, and each Tuesday we grab our tools (sunscreen, bug spray, mommy’s sunglasses, and our nets) and go have one! These inexpensive beach nets are what we use to trap the trash for mommy. Since keeping gloves on my two was next to impossible, we made this simple, safe alternative that still allows them to spot and capture the “TASH!” but to watch mommy put it in the trash can. The Reverse Litter website has a great section for engaging your children in this pledge, including a game to play with their whole class that encourages teamwork and environmental stewardship.
I look forward to a summer full of adventures with my growing, trash-spotting, water-loving boys, and hope that the lessons I am teaching them now through the Ten on Tuesday pledge stay with them far beyond our Tuesday park visits. I know they have stayed with me.
For more information on Reverse Litter, or how to join the more than 20,000 others that have signed the Ten on Tuesday pledge, please check out www.ReverseLitter.com.
