COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Collier County has achieved an impressive recycling rate, reaching 78 percent and securing the second spot among all 67 counties in the State of Florida.
This marks the second time Collier County has met the statewide goal, demonstrating a three-percentage-point increase from the previous year.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) released the 2022 recycling ranks, revealing that Collier County, along with Charlotte County and Lee County, all ranked in the top five.
According to FDEP data, Collier County recycled approximately 1.3 million tons out of the 1.7 million tons of waste collected in 2022, surpassing the 75 percent benchmark set by the FDEP. The recycled materials include plastics, paper, cardboard, and metal, as well as chemicals, batteries, foam, light bulbs, and electronics.
Kari Hodgson, director of solid waste for Collier County, emphasized the importance of proper disposal and recycling. “We want to preserve our landfill space for that other standard trash. The things that can’t be recycled. That is less toxic.”
She encouraged residents to drop off bulbs, oil, and hazardous home waste at designated centers instead of throwing them in the regular trash. The county aims to preserve landfill space for non-recyclable waste, especially items that may pose environmental risks.
“Batteries are a great example. We want people to bring their batteries here because they start fires. It’s a huge, huge problem,” she said.
In terms of community engagement, Hodgson mentioned, “We get over 90,000 customers a year at our recycle centers. People in Collier County care,” she urged residents. “We live in paradise. Let’s preserve our paradise. Don’t worry about if you’re doing it right. Just do it.”
She further emphasized the collective impact, saying, “Every little bit makes a difference. Every can makes a difference. Every roll of toilet paper makes a difference. We can make a difference in Collier County.”
Residents expressed their satisfaction with the county’s recycling efforts, highlighting the convenience and positive impact on the environment.
Karl Heien, a Naples resident, shared his experience, saying, “Always accommodating. They’ll help you unload if you need it. It makes life easy.” He further mentioned, “I live a few miles, really a mile away. It’s really easy to come here. I’ve told a lot of people about it too.”
Regarding the significance of recycling, Karl Heien emphasized, “I would say start recycling. It’s great for the environment. Stop throwing all this stuff out in the dump. It’s gonna be full one of these days, and all of the runoff is not good.”
He added, “I like to do my part to keep our world clean,” noting the ease of recycling, “It can’t get any easier. I don’t even have to get out of the car.”