Toolkits & Guides
CEC’s Toolkits & Guides bring together practical information, best practices, and local examples and contacts to help individuals and organizations take meaningful action for a healthier, more sustainable Houston.
Storytelling for Environmental Advocacy: Resource Guide for the Houston Region
Stories have the power to move hearts and minds. Our Storytelling for Environmental Advocacy Guide was developed to help community members, environmental organizations, educators, youth leaders, and advocates in Houston/Gulf Coast region use storytelling as a tool for change. The toolkit includes resources on shaping environmental stories plus local case studies, resources, funders and contacts.
Sustainable Events Guide (Coming Soon)
From community meetings to large conferences, every event serves as an opportunity to model and teach about sustainability. That’s why CEC is sharing lessons learned from one of Houston’s biggest zero-waste events, Earth Day at Discovery Green, in our Sustainable Events Guide. The guide will provide actionable recommendations to reduce the carbon footprint, plastic footprint, waste generated and water used at events. It will also provide practical tips for achieving zero waste and examples of event communications.
In April 2025, Discovery Green’s Green Mountain Energy Earth Day event drew nearly 30,000 attendees. In collaboration with CEC and other partners, over 90% of waste was diverted from landfills, sending just 9.98% to the landfill despite record-breaking trash collection. More than 5,000 lbs of waste were collected that day, and a team of over 200 volunteers, guided by Zero Waste Houston and CEC, sorted, weighed, and redirected most of it into composting and recycling streams. This event marks one of Houston’s largest zero-waste efforts to date.
Share Your Ideas
We welcome your feedback and ideas for future resources. We’ll continue to expand our library of toolkits and guides over time. Your input helps us shape tools that meet the needs of our community.