Escambia County Recycling History

1990-1996*  "Dirty" Material Recovery Facility (Dirty MRF).  Citizens were told to dispose of all recyclables along with their regular garbage.  Some of the garbage trucks were diverted from the Class I landfill to the Dirty MRF at the Perdido Landfill where approximately 30 laborers picked through the garbage and reclaimed recyclables.

1995*  Blue Bag Recycling. 

This six month pilot program was conducted in Myrtle Grove.  The results were poor.  The program was expensive, had low participation and output, and contained high levels of contamination (non-recyclables/garbage.)

October 1, 1996- present*  Drop-Off Recycling Program (current program) started.

Program was and is successful and has expanded over the years.  The "Dirty" MRF was renovated to a Dual Stream Recovered Materials Processing Facility (RMPF.)  

Recovered Materials Processing Facility (RMPF), plastics/metals/glass line.

Escambia County's Shoe Reuse & Recycle Program NEW!!

Recycling Operations is collecting new and gently used shoes for Escambia County charities in need as well as Soles4Souls a non-profit organization that distributes shoes to those in need nationally and worldwide.

Shoes will be collected at various sites throughout the county and at shoe drives with different organizations. 

Currently we are collecting shoes at:

Perdido Landfill, 13009 Beulah Road;

Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department, 1651 E. Nine Mile Road;

Escambia County Extension Services Office,3740 Stefani Road.

When donating shoes please rubber-band pairs together.

For more information contact Dee Dee Green at 850-937-2160.

Soles4Souls warehouse in Roanoke, AL.

Aveda Recycling Plastic Caps

Did you know that when bottles are recycled, their caps (which can't be processed by recycling machinery) are often cut off and thrown away, ending up in landfills, oceans, rivers, and too often, in the mouths of baby sea animals.  This causes the animals to either choke or end up with bellies full of plastic, which eventually leads to death due to malnutrition.

From March 10th through May 10th, Aveda stores will be accepting any and all of your hard plastic caps (e.g. from bottles of water and soda, laundry detergent, facial cleansers, shampoo, etc.).  To participate, visitedaveda.com/stores to find and Aveda store location near you.  Don't see one within driving distance?  Mail in your caps instead to: Aveda Re-Cap Program, ACA Waste Services, 40 EADS Street in Babylon, NY 11704.  Bonus: Bring in 25 or more caps and you'll receive a free sample from one of Aveda's hair or body-care lines (limit one per customer.)

Escambia County's Shopping Bag Program~ECSBP~ NEW!!

You can sing along to it E C S B P!!  (RESPECT) Catchy huh?  That's what we are hoping.  As part of the plastics recycling program plastic shopping bags are now being accepted for recycling.  Recycling Operations is providing re-useable shopping bags made from 100% recycled material to Escambia County residents in an effort to help Escambia County go green!

Plastic bags are a petroleum based product.  When they are in the trash they blow away and litter trees, roadways, and waterways.  They are an environmental hazard and an eye sore. 

Bags are available at the Perdido Landfill. 

Bags will also be available at upcoming Earth Day and other county events.

Pensacola News Journal Article on the plastic bag.

For more information call 850-937-2160.

Escambia County’s Drop-Off Recycling Program

The Department of Solid Waste Management operates a Residential Drop-Off Recycling Program whose primary goal is the conservation of natural resources and a reduction in energy consumption in the production of new products through the recycling of selected materials. Items eligible for recycling are aluminum cans, steel cans, glass containers, plastic containers 1-7, cardboard, magazines, and mixed paper. Once collection containers are full, they are delivered to the Perdido Landfill where items are sorted and prepared for pickup by the recycling facility.

End-of-Life Electronics Recycling Program

Electronic components contain toxic and hazardous materials and must be disposed of properly. The Department of Solid Waste Management has a program for the collection and recycling of end-of-life electronics such as stereos, tv's, vcr's, computer equipment, etc. These items can be brought to the Perdido Landfill at no charge or to our Regional Roundups.  Please call (850) 937-2160 to arrange an appointment for drop off if you have large quantities of these items.

*Microwaves are now accepted at the landfill free of charge.

"Bales of Aluminum Cans are ready to be taken to an aluminum company for melting.  From there they are melted down into sheets that are shipped to can makers, who produce can bodies.  Then they are delivered to Beverage Companies for filling."

We are always looking for good information and contacts in reuse and recycling.  Please share information with us by sending an email to ddgreen@co.escambia.fl.us

Links we like to websites with information about reducing, reusing, recycling, going green, and zero waste!

Earth 911,

http://earth911.org/

OurEarth.org, promotes environmental education and awareness,

http://www.ourearth.org/

The Story of Stuff,

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Earth Force,

http://www.earthforce.org/

Zero Waste Alliance

http://www.zerowaste.org/

Grassroots Recycling Network, Zero Waste,

http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/

Sierra Club Ontario

http://ontario.sierraclub.ca/campaigns/waste_diversion/