“We are very keenly aware that residents in our community want to recycle and they want to protect the environment, and I think a lot of people feel that way, but they don't have a place that they can go to or a resource,” Gonzalez said. “So we try to fill that.”
Breaking it down
Keep Kingwood Green consists of volunteers who work together to host waste disposal events and advertise recycling opportunities. The nonprofit partners with the city of Houston for multiple projects, including a biannual event where citizens can drop off items that are difficult to dispose of, such as batteries, oil, paint and antifreeze.
The nonprofit also works to spread awareness in the community about ways to save money and reduce waste, even offering a hotline where residents can leave voicemails and get questions answered, Gonzalez said.
“[We] educate people that just because you threw it away doesn't mean it went away,” Gonzalez said. “It has to go somewhere. So where's it going? Is it going in the waterways? Is it going in the trees? Is it going to a landfill? Is it going on the side of the road?”
The history
Keep Kingwood Green was officially founded in 2008—about five years after the efforts of its four founding members began—said Hal Opperman, a volunteer and the organization’s first president. Opperman said he and the other founding members launched Keep Kingwood Green in response to a demand for a recycling center in Kingwood.
About two decades later, Opperman is still active in the organization, personally placing signs around Kingwood each week so that residents can navigate to the local recycling center.
“Hal is the powerhouse behind [Keep] Kingwood Green. ... I always think he doesn't get enough recognition,” Gonzalez said.
Lend a hand
Looking toward the future, nonprofit leaders said they would love to have more volunteers and partnerships with businesses or other organizations to expand the reach of their environmental efforts.
“With some more help, we'd love to get into more areas,” he said.
