Meet Taylor Youngblood, a recycle and reuse advocate and Zero Waste Block Leader. Taylor regularly provides advice to her neighbors in the Mueller neighborhood about recycling, composting, and reuse. She tables at events, runs a blog, and has started several collection programs for hard-to-recycle items in her neighborhood. Taylor’s passion is to make zero waste concepts accessible to everyone and she makes it her mission to answer even the most detailed questions from community members.

We spoke with Taylor about what motivates her, what her toughest challenges have been, and what inspires her share her zero waste knowledge.

Each year, our Austin Green Business Leaders go head-to-head to compete for the coveted Green Cup. Businesses get points by having individual team members complete actions like carpooling with coworkers, eating local food, using a reusable coffee mug, and more. The business with the most points wins!

This year's challenge came down to the wire, but CLEAResult held off a fast and furious charge from the Westin Hotel at the Domain to capture the 6th annual Green Cup. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, the actions of this year’s participants produced some very positive results:

• 297,624 lbs. of CO2 avoided
• 24,691 lbs. of waste diverted
• 343,423 gallons of water saved

Congratulations to CLEAResult and thank you to everyone who participated!

We’re pleased to introduce you to Celine Rendon, a Community Engagement Specialist working with us on temporary assignment. Celine will be helping our office's efforts to reach community members about the Climate Plan Update and will be helping to manage the Community Climate Ambassadors Program.

We asked her a few get-to-know you questions so you can learn more about her and her background.
 

Q: Where are you from?

For any military brat this is a hard question. I was born in Sacramento but lived in Tucson for seven years and Okinawa for nine years. I’ve been living in Texas for 5 years now and love the people here, especially growing up around a lot of different cultures.

Q: What is your educational background?

A: I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Science. My focus was in Geography and I hold a Bridging Disciplines Program certificate in Public Policy. I credit much of my knowledge and experience to community organizations like PODER. These organizations have given me many of the tools and resources for empowerment in the environmental field.

As Thanksgiving approaches, menu planning, trips to reconnect with family and friends, and Black Friday shopping lists can be front-of-mind. We propose shifting your perspective to slow down and simplify this year. Since this is a holiday based on gratitude, why not start from a place of feeling abundant and plentiful? When we recognize everything we already have, it’s easier to think about ways to reduce our impact on the planet.

Here are five tips to have a more sustainable Thanksgiving that begins with a mindset focused on the plenty all around us:

Explore your local farmer’s market

There are so many beautiful fruits and vegetables grown locally! Buying local food means fewer food miles, which in turn means lower greenhouse gas emissions. Conventionally grown food travels roughly 1,500 miles from farm to plate, compared to just 50 miles for local products. And smaller local farms typically use more sustainable farming methods like using compost as a natural fertilizer.

Ditch the disposables

With so many different dishes being served and with so many people at the table, Thanksgiving dinner can turn into a big pile of dishes. So, it’s not uncommon for regular plates, cups, napkins, and silverware to be swapped with disposables. But this is a special occasion that deserves the fine china or grandma’s heirlooms! Sure, it’ll mean a little extra time at the sink, but it’s also a time to reflect on the memories of other special dinners and events where you’ve used the extra-special plates and silver.