Pinellas had the highest recycling rate in Florida during 2015.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Pinellas County has been recognized for having the highest recycling rate in the state of Florida.

The recycling rate for 2015 was 89 percent as released by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on July 1.

“Pinellas County celebrates this significant achievement by recognizing our 24 municipal partners, private recyclers and citizens who contributed to the 2015 recycling rate,” said Kelsi Oswald, director of Pinellas County Solid Waste.

Pinellas County Solid Waste submitted its 2015 Solid Waste Management Report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in April. FDEP calculates a recycling rate, based on a traditional recycling rate such as curbside and residential recycling, and recycling credit for renewable energy created by the combustion of solid waste, such as waste burned at Pinellas County Solid Waste’s Energy-from-Waste facility. Based on this calculation, Pinellas County’s recycling rate was 89 percent, which includes traditional curbside and residential recycling rate of 52 percent for 2015.

Pinellas County’s 2015 recycling rate contributes to state of Florida’s overall 2015 recycling rate, which is 54 percent, with a traditional recycling rate of 42 percent.  The state’s next recycling target is 60 percent by Jan. 1.  The state of Florida set a goal to recycle 75 percent of its waste by 2020.

The increased recycling rate for Pinellas County is due in part to the significant increase in reported recycled construction and demolition debris, which includes recycled concrete.  The recycling rate is based on reported tonnage.

While the recycling goals may be weight-based, Pinellas County is committed to support waste reduction and recycling efforts that lessen the overall environmental impacts of the waste we produce.  For example, recycled monofilament fishing line weighs very little, but the impact of removing used monofilament fishing line from local water bodies is significant.

For information about Pinellas County’s recycling efforts, go to pinellascounty.org.

Pinellas County | Recycling | Department of Environmental Protection | TB Reporter

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