Recycle a Knoxville River!

by Pat Fox

Adults and kids love to help the planet with projects to encourage recycling, but have you ever considered recycling a river? In Houston, Texas, young people are doing just that by learning about Buffalo Bayou and participating in ways to revitalize this waterway that is so important to the city for its history and for its natural benefits.

An organization called the Endangered Species Media Project (ESMP) has been promoting ways for children to protect the environment and one of their favorite projects has been recycling our main “river.” It’s called Buffalo Bayou instead of Buffalo River because it is affected by tides just like the beach, while a real river would not show this.

Buffalo Bayou starts west of Houston and runs through the heart of the city for more than 30 miles, joining the Ship Channel and eventually flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. We really are recycling this waterway because not long ago it was so neglected and dirty some people called it a sewer. It still needs lots of care, but the water is better now, and many birds and other animals live in and along it and it is coming alive.

We are recycling our river by teaching people to keep trash out of storm sewers because this can end up in our bayous. We also are educating people about things they may never even think about. Being a faithful doggie “pooper scooper” also protects this resource. Doggie and other animal waste washes into storm drains when left on the ground and puts harmful bacteria into the water.

The main project to recycle our bayou is cleaning out the rubbish that ends up in the water and tangled along the banks. Young people are recruited from schools and other organizations to travel down the bayou in canoes and remove the trash. Anything that can be recycled that is cleaned up is sorted for that purpose as well. Some groups have had recycling booths set up during these cleanups to expand their good work.

Your school, scout troop, religious group or just a family or group of interested individuals can contact local environmental groups for help in planning ways to recycle a waterway near you. Canoe rental companies often offer discounts or even donate some boats for these projects. You will need lots of adults for safety on the water who understand how to use canoes if you do the same kind of project, but you could also plan to recycle a park or historical site by removing trash and sorting what can be salvaged. Here we do beach cleanups the same way. This can be hard work but it can be lots of fun.

What do you need to recycle a place near you? Here are some things to consider.
1. Pick a location that needs being rescued and get permission from the people who are in charge. Here that was our city government.
2. Set a date and get sponsors to help pay expenses and to go along.
3. Find canoes and guides and where to put them into the water and take them out. Arrange to transport people to the put in site in carpools.
4. Get any needed permits and insurance. Safety is important so you also will need to train volunteers before starting or even in advance. Everyone should have an approved life jacket in canoes.
5. If you can, get sponsors to donate water and food or snacks, port-a-potties if needed, and other supplies like sturdy gloves and bags to collect debris. A party when you are finished will be great!
6. Involve other kinds of recycling and environmental organizations and have a little recycling fair at your ending site.
7. Notify other organizations who may want to be involved. Write press release and tell the newspapers and television and radio stations about your project.
8. Take lots of pictures and put them in your newsletter or on a website to spread the word. “Before” and “after” photos really show your work.
9. If you collect recyclables, estimate the quantity and report that as well as telling how many bags of trash you gathered.
10. Consider making this an ongoing project done several times a year.

You may be able to brainstorm other neglected places that caring people can recycle to benefit the whole community. Groups like ESMP will be glad to help you identify needs and plan events.

(Note to MTurk requester: I don’t know if you want contact information but if so, use this:, ESMP can be contacted by e-mailing ESMP@neosoft.com, or calling (713) 520-1985 or by mail to ESMP, POB 460567, Houston, TX, 77056. A Buffalo Bayou documentary is being filmed and that website is under development. An older site is www.vanishingwildlife.com. )