La Porte, TX — Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement organization, recently named La Porte a Silver Star Affiliate, a designation conferred on just a handful of KTB’s more than 360 affiliates in 2011. Gold Star recognition is the highest status any community affiliate can achieve.

The City of La Porte successfully re-implemented programs to prevent litter, reduce waste, beautify community areas and educate local citizens last year with a Keep it CLEAN La Porte Campaign. Keep La Porte Beautiful and Recycling Program brochures and window decals were handed out at different events and are still available at various City facilities. Please Don’t Litter signs were installed around the City on major thoroughfares and the City held its 2^nd and 3^rd Annual Trash Bash events in April last year and again this year. In addition, the City of La Porte has a Litter Pick-up Program, which gives non-profit organizations the opportunity to earn $200 by organizing a group volunteer effort to help pick up litter.

To stay in good standing with KTB, community 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, the organization introduced the concept of Silver Star recognition, to reward those communities who sought to go above and beyond the established requirements.  To achieve this status, affiliates are required to meet additional benchmarks; they must share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their educational programs and solid waste initiatives, and participate in the Keep Texas Beautiful or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs. KTB formally recognized Silver Star communities during its 45th Annual Conference in downtown San Antonio, which was held June 26-29, 2012.

Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement nonprofit, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 360 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups and volunteers to ensure every Texan has the opportunity to make 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.