Disclaimer :: This post is sponsored by The Reverse Litter program, funded by the Tarrant Regional Water District and the cities of Fort Worth, Denton, and Dallas. The following comments are Elizabeth’s own thoughts and feelings.
One of my favorite things about my neighborhood is the amazing park right down the street, and the Trinity River that winds through it. My boys have spent countless hours throwing rocks and sticks into its shallow water, squealing with pride as they see the splash and ripples they’ve created. Nothing ruins this fun moment more than watching a water bottle float by, or a plastic bag hanging on to a tree branch overhead. Even the boys recognize it shouldn’t be there, shouting “TASH” or “UH OH” as it saunters by our muddy splash zone, or flaps in the gentle breeze. Sometimes I’d pick up the trash we found, but more often than not I just tilt my head, furrow my brow, and think about what a shame it is.
I’m not the only one who enjoys our park — it’s a popular place for families to play after school, or just enjoy a beautiful Texas spring day (read: 88 degrees!). It’s evident from the types of trash you can spot in the grass, river, playground, and sidewalks that families use the vast, open green areas for picnics, playdates, and even birthday parties. I can imagine that these pieces of trash scattered about were not the result of mean-spirited litterers, but more likely a mom whose kid’s empty pack of raisins somehow slid out of her bag, or forgot to pick up the water bottle she brought with her to enjoy as she watched her little ones swing and slide. It made me think: What litter leftovers had I left at the park over the years?
Then I saw a billboard on my way to work. 
The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), in partnership with the cities of Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth, created the Reverse Litter Program to raise awareness of the implications of trash on our beloved North Texas waterways. The Ten on Tuesday pledge is an easy way to take action and remind yourself how even a little effort can make a big impact on reducing litter. Pledging to pick up 10 pieces of trash each Tuesday should be nothing extraordinary for us moms, who probably spend most of our day picking up things from the ground that don’t belong there!
The website taps into what I realized while examining the park’s unwanted trash guests: We all litter. And that litter ends up in our drinking water supply, along our roads, and even into our favorite rock-dropping spots. Litter affects us all, and it’s up to all of us to do what we can. The Ten on Tuesday pledge is a wonderful way to hold yourself accountable, and to encourage others to do the same. I signed up (along with more than 18,000 other folks in North Texas!) and am planning on sharing my Ten on Tuesday adventures on social media to encourage others to take the pledge as well.
Doing good feels good, and its a message that has always been important for me to impart on my boys. I am so glad I heard about this pledge and have a resource like ReverseLitter.com to show me practical ways to make a difference each Tuesday and in between!
Next Tuesday, when I take the boys up to their favorite place to run and play, in addition to the sidewalk chalk and sippy cups, they’ll have their gloves and small buckets with them for our trash adventure! I’m excited to reiterate my “pick up after yourselves” lessons from home by showing them that we leave with what we come with, and that if someone has forgotten to do the same, that we can take care of it. They’ll be ecstatic to collect things in their buckets and help mommy spot “TASH!” to pick up. I’ll be ecstatic to save the tilting head and furrowing brow for upcoming bathing suit shopping.
For more information on how you can make the Ten on Tuesday pledge, as well as staggering statistics about litter’s effect on the environment here in North Texas, visit www.reverselitter.com.
