PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County Solid Waste is considering changes to its recycling efforts, and they want to know what you think about it.
Officials want to revise the current solid waste ordinance to help the county reach its goal of zero waste to landfill by the year 2050. Public meetings will be held starting next week to discuss the changes being considered and to hear from residents.
Each year, the county takes in 1.2 million tons of trash that ends up in the county's only landfill.
"It's on a steady increase," Stephanie Watson, the program manager for recycling and outreach programs at the Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste, said. "That's because of a slightly growing population generating more trash."
In a news release from the county, "Pinellas County’s Chapter 106 Solid Waste (“Ordinance”) has not been significantly revised since the 1980s. To support the County’s 2020 30-year Solid Waste Master Plan (Master Plan) and its vision of zero waste to landfill by 2050, a countywide focus on waste reduction and recycling programs is needed."
The county's landfill is projected to be filled and closed in 75 to 80 years. While that may not seem pressing, here's what is: The waste-to-energy facility is projected to be at capacity by 2026.
The waste-to-energy facility takes waste, burns it to ash, and reduces its size by 90 percent. If that facility is at capacity in 2026, more trash will have to be taken to straight to the landfill, quickening the rate at which it fills.
"If we're able to send more items for recycling or even reduce the waste in the first place, we'll have more capacity at our waste energy facility, which will preserve our landfill," Watson said.
This is why the county is now considering mandatory recycling across the county. It would require residential recyclables to have a service to be picked up as well as require residents to recycle. Watson said the details of how this works aren't yet decided, which is why the county wants to hear from residents.
"As far as the mandatory recycling ordinance, we don't have a plan and details that we're bringing to these meetings, the goal of the meeting is to get the input, good and bad from the public, we're there to hear what you have to say," Watson said. "And to bring that back to the governing body, which is the board."
The Department of Solid Waste (DSW) wants to hear from residents across the county, including unincorporated Pinellas County. The county is soliciting feedback on potential ordinance revisions. In the public sessions, an overview of the current solid waste management system will be explained, as well as why the county believes countywide waste reduction and recycling programs are needed.
"The public will be able to provide input about potential ordinance revisions that may affect residents and businesses in the unincorporated areas," the news release reads. "There will be additional public engagement opportunities within the next 12 months.
Three public engagement meetings are scheduled for this month:
- St. Petersburg College EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street N., Clearwater
- Tuesday, July 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Virtual session on Zoom, visit pinellas.gov/swordinancefor log-in instructions
- Monday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Harbor Hall, 1190 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor
- Wednesday, July 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.