Don’t let FIESTA trash your river!

It’s officially Spring in Texas! It’s time to celebrate the arrival of many things: Fiesta® San Antonio, celebrations throughout our San Antonio River Basin communities, and the appearance of the stunning wildflowers that make us proud to be Texan. Unfortunately, along with the celebrations come many opportunities for litter to make its way into our local creeks and the San Antonio River. How can you help? Read below for ways to ensure you do your part to reduce your impact when celebrating with your friends and family!

5 Ways to Reduce Litter During Fiesta®

1. Dispose of all trash into their proper containers and pick up litter that you see. This is THE most important thing you can do to help!
2. Bring your reusable water bottle and fill it up at a drinking fountain.
3. Don’t leave items behind! Celebrate with Fiesta Medals and goodies you can take home and re-use.
4. Choose paper over plastic filling for cascarones— many store-bought eggs are filled with plastic or metal glitter that can end up in our precious waterways and harm wildlife. If you want to got he extra mile, consider making these wildlife-friendly cascarones instead, or learn how to create ones that use birdseed!
5. Tie down any tents, chairs, or decorations like papel picado to prevent them from becoming litter in our river.

Plastic confetti can take hundreds of years to eventually degrade— what started as fun can cause damage long after the big celebration.

Any litter on the ground can be quickly swept into storm drains and end up in the San Antonio River.

The River Authority’s “Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River” initiative intends to educate the communities throughout the basin and encourage the public to take part in helping keep area creeks and rivers clean by not littering and by picking up trash when they see it on the ground. Here are 4 more ways to help our creeks and rivers!

1. Volunteer with Us! Register for the River Warrior Volunteer Program
2. Join the Conversation—Share your thoughts on social media using our Toolkit.
3. Educate Others—Are you an educator? Download our free lesson plans and resources to inspire stewardship in the classroom.
4. Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste properly—Attend a free HHW collection events in Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties.

HHW events help prevent illegal dumping and, in conjunction with the trash outreach initiative, will continue to educate the public on proper ways to dispose of trash.

Our River needs a helping hand, so Don’t Let Litter (and FIESTA) Trash Your River!