Don’t Make Waste Bandera!, also known as Keep Bandera Beautiful, has been named a Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful, the nonprofit’s highest honor for local chapters working to improve community environments.
The award recognizes the group’s efforts to reduce litter, promote recycling and engage residents in a wide range of beautification projects throughout Bandera County.
The all-volunteer organization is one of several across the state that demonstrated “exceptional commitment” to keeping their communities clean and green, according to Keep Texas Beautiful Executive Director Suzanne Kho.
“Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates are the heart of our mission, and we are proud to recognize those that go above and beyond,” Kho said. “Our Gold Star Affiliates lead by example— recruiting and managing volunteers, hosting cleanup and beautification projects, and inspiring positive change in their communities.”
In 2024, affiliates with Keep Texas Beautiful organized more than 60,000 volunteers who collected roughly 1 million pounds of trash and recyclables from Texas roadways, trails and waterways.
Locally, Don’t Make Waste Bandera! has partnered with community groups, businesses and neighborhood volunteers to clean up county roads, assist elderly and disabled residents with junk removal, and establish an all-volunteer recycling program that now operates two collection sites in the county.
“Our approach is to get as many community groups as possible countywide to engage in a variety of cleanup and recycling efforts,” said DMWB President Robert Brischetto. “The more groups we can get involved, the more successful the community is in changing the culture of taking care of our local environment.”
Gold Star affiliates must meet several benchmarks including organizational leadership, community involvement, and regular participation in statewide programs such as the Beautify Texas Awards and Governor’s Community Achievement Awards. Affiliates must also report on diversity and economic development goals and provide a letter of support from their local community.
All 2025 Gold Star Affiliates will be honored May 6 during the Keep Texas Beautiful Conference in Austin.
Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful supports environmental stewardship through local partnerships, education, and volunteer mobilization.
To learn more about Don’t Make Waste Bandera!, visit www.dmwb.net or email dontmakewastebandera@ gmail.com.
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