My primary question is, “Does Monroe County really recycle?” It is met with a resounding “yes.”
Monroe County’s recycling efforts have seen a significant improvement according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection report, which shows a recycling rate of 57% in 2023, a notable increase from 50% in 2022.
This upward trend is a testament to the growing number of Monroe County residents and visitors choosing to recycle. Your active participation is key to this success. Before taking on the role of Monroe County’s recycling coordinator, I spent 18 months as a scale operator at the Cudjoe transfer station where I gained firsthand knowledge of the recycling process for each waste material created in Monroe County.
Monroe County uses single-stream recycling, in which all recyclable materials are collected in the same tote or Dumpster. This method encourages participation and reduces contamination. All these materials are hauled to a recycling facility in Pembroke Pines, about 160 miles away. At the Reuters Recycling Facility, materials are sorted by machinery and by hand, then bailed to be sold to manufacturers and made into new items. Not only is Monroe County recycling more, but it is also recycling better.
My second question is, “Can we recycle pizza boxes?” No, we cannot recycle used pizza boxes. Although the cardboard is recyclable, a large, greasy pepperoni pizza contaminates the box, preventing the material from being recycled. Furthermore, any other materials in the receptacle with the contaminated materials will not be recycled either.
Waste Management’s contamination audit report dated May 22, 2024 showed Monroe County’s contamination rate has improved from 38% to 22% this year, a significant achievement that we should all be proud of.
There are other recycled materials in Monroe County you may not think about, such as tires. I am excited to report our tire recycling event on Sept. 7 was a success, collecting 157 tires thanks to your efforts. This event allowed Monroe County and the surrounding municipality residents to recycle their passenger tires at no cost, with a limit of six tires no larger than 20 inches, at the Monroe County transfer stations. The tires are hauled to American Tire Recycling in Miami, where they are processed into crumbles to be repurposed for many uses, including road repairs.
The public’s participation in this event has made a significant contribution to our recycling efforts. The tire recycling events will be available again on the first Saturday in October and November.
Food waste is a significant landfill waste and produces methane gas. As a community, we can make a difference. Monroe County has a full-time population of about 84,000 with some 5 million tourists visiting the county last year according to the Key West Travel Guide. Naturally, when on vacation, people want to enjoy the local food and drink. Unfortunately, people often cannot save leftovers, which become trash and go to landfills. I am collaborating with organizations to offer food waste prevention and compost workshops where we’ll learn about reducing waste and preserving the delicate ecosystem. I am also researching solutions for the hospitality industry.
I am passionate about preserving the fragile environment we enjoy. I feel education and collaboration with the community are the key to our sustainability in the Florida Keys. I recently read the book, “Braiding Sweetgrass.” In the book, the author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, says, “Live as if your grandchildren’s lives depend on it.” Even if you do not have grandchildren, others do. We need to be responsible for our unique, beautiful surroundings and always strive to learn how to protect them so others can experience their beauty. Please review the Monroe County calendar for upcoming collections, educational presentations and DIY workshops.
Free food waste prevention and DIY composting workshops
- Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. at City of Marathon Gardens at the Community Park.
- Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Plantation Key Community Center.
- Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. at Key Largo library.
Bring a 13-gallon or larger tote with a lid and fruit or vegetable scraps.
