HOUSTON -- Houston children are learning how they can take action to help our environment and make the most of its limited resources, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Students at an after-school YMCA program in the Third Ward are being taught how to reduce, reuse and recycle. It's a big lesson that is not lost on little ones.

"If we don't recycle, reuse and reduce, we will cause real damage to the world," said Deshawn Stewart, a fourth-grader.

"I learned that recycle is small, but it can do a big difference in the world," said Alaijah Butler, a fourth-grader.

"What we have seen is when we talk to the school children, they go home and tell their parents about recycling and what they learned, and they are the ones who are the enforcers in the house," said Marina Joseph, with the city of Houston Solid Waste Department.

The students learned about landfills and how it costs taxpayers $32 to get rid of one ton of garbage.

"Think about all the people in Houston, all the garbage we are dumping when we could be saving money in your pocket," said Tammie Campbell with the Honey Brown Hope Foundation. "We want to make sure we reach our young children at a young age. That is what our calendar contest is all about."

Photographs taken by Houston-area children will be featured in the next city of Houston Sold Waste calendar.

It's another way to encourage the children to appreciate nature's beauty and keep our Earth clean.

"It becomes a lifestyle. It becomes a way of life for them and it also encourages their families, their parents to do the right thing," Joseph said.

Residents can call 311 for recycling information or to get a presentation for your school or civic group.