(Austin, Texas) - Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement organization, named City of Baytown Health Department Keep Baytown Beautiful as a Gold Star Affiliate at their annual meeting in San Antonio on July 13th. Baytown is one of more than 340 towns, cities, and counties in KTB’s statewide network that take responsibility to care for the community environment. In 2007, only 45 of these affiliates obtained Gold Star recognition, the highest status for an affiliate.
During 2006 – 2007, Baytown’s Keep Baytown Beautiful program implemented a wide variety of activities and events to prevent and cleanup litter; reduce waste; cleanup illegal dumpsites; beautify community areas; and educate citizens. To achieve the level of good standing with KTB, affiliates must annually submit a report, pay a fee, attend at least one training session, and participate in at least one KTB endorsed activity.
In 2004, KTB introduced the opportunity for affiliates to earn Gold Star recognition by meeting additional criteria. To achieve this status, affiliates are required to share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their public education programs and partnerships, participate in the Keep Texas Beautiful or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs, and provide a letter of support from their community. The City of Baytown Health Department Keep Baytown Beautiful program has earned Gold Star recognition from KTB for the past 3 years.
Keep Texas Beautiful, the statewide grassroots environmental organization and affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.
For more information on programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-TX or visit www.ktb.org.