Lee County established an 80 percent recycling rate in 2019, 5 percent higher than the original goal set for 2020. And now Lee County’s recycling participation has increased from the previous recorded rate of 77 percent. The County has recycled approximately 1.8 million tons of the 2.27 million tons of recycled material collected locally. As stated by Lee County Government Communications Director Betsy Clayton, that’s enough to fill 138 football fields as high as the Sanibel Causeway bridge.
Lee County Solid Waste continues to keep local residents informed on waste management solutions. The recycling increase is credited to curbside recycling of residents’ waste as well as that of businesses recycling materials that do not fit into that category, from scrap metal to demolition debris. Lee County Solid Waste Director Doug Whitehead recognized the effect that an improved recycling rate has had on their efforts to keep the community invested. “We are very proud of being the best in the state. It required years of work by the entire team,” he said.
With the remaining 20 percent, there is room to improve. Lee County Solid Waste reminds residents to recycle only paper, metal, cardboard, plastic and glass. Throwing anything other than that in the recycling cart can be expensive and ineffective. Something that you hope can be recycled but doesn’t belong in the cart is called a “wish-cycled” item. These items end up being transported to the Material Recovery Facility, sorted, rejected, transported again and disposed of. “When food waste ends up in curbside recycling, it is problematic, as it creates a great deal of contamination,” said Whitehead. “It is important to keep it out of the recycling bin. Putting wet, messy garbage in your recycling bin can contaminate your neighbors’ material, possibly leading to landfilling.”