Recycling

[Cuff]

Why is recycling so lacking in Walton County? I recently moved here and am surprised that such a beautiful place is doing next to nothing about this. Is there a group or organization working on this problem. I would like to be involved.

 

[TreeFrog]

I assume you're aware of the county recycling trailers, at various locations in SoWal, for glass, cans, plastic, and paper. Also, the green bins at Publix take styrofoam, plastic bags, and grocery bags. You can also get curbside pickup through Blue Binz. I use the trailer behind the Watercolor Publix and their green bins.

It's a shame we don't get curbside pickup through the county, though.

 

[PearlSB4U]

Why are there big signs at the Hwy 98 recycle site that say "PLEASE NO CARDBOARD"?
Where can I recycle cardboard?

 

[SkinShark]

Not only is it hard to recycle cardboard, it is nearly impossible to find boxes for moving. I suggest adding a "free boxes" thread to SoWal- they will be gone in no time.

 

[BeachRob]

When I was in another location that I am ashamed to name, there was curbside recycling pickup. It was a city funded remedial pilot program, using otherwise un-hireable labor to sort the items, which lasted about 15 years. The program was terminated, however, in about 2009. An audit by the city, in an effort to cut unnecessary costs during the recession, found that 90% of what was picked up by the recycling trucks was going to the landfill.

 

[tsutcli]

The sad thing is that it took took 15 years and a recession for the city to discover that the money was going down the toilet. Probably because it was "free money" from Washington and the city wanted to keep it coming - politics as usual.

 

[Cuff]

I lived in a city up north where we paid per bag for trash pick- up but recycling was free. That incentive lowered the city's costs in tipping fees at the dump and made $ selling recycled materials. Just moved here from Key West where curbside recycling is free too. Waste Management has several facilities where recycled materials are separated in a large wind - tunnel like building. The City of KW contracts with Waste Management as does Walton County so separating is really not necessary. While the market price for recycled material fluctuates there is a market. I suspect the contract between Walton County and Waste Management is limited . I have requested a copy of that contract. Perhaps the Walton County policy makers are not aware of the savings of tax dollars in a comprehensive recycling program. There is no need for $ from Washington to start a smart common sense program. Onward!