Orange County Utilities Launches Recycling Improvement Pilot Program

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather and to gather more data, this pilot has been extended from six weeks to eight weeks.

Pilot Aims to Educate Residents on Recycling Correct Materials
Orange County, Fla. – To remove plastic bags and other non-recyclable items from the Orange County Recycling program, Orange County Utilities announces the launch of a pilot program to study and improve recycling habits in unincorporated Orange County.

Phase one of the will begin with 600 households to help the county plan for a countywide recycling improvement program.

Based on similar programs in Massachusetts, Atlanta and Chicago that showed promising results, the program involves staff members looking inside carts and leaving a card with recycling feedback.

Each cart will be given a weekly tag ranging from Great Job (near perfect), Good Try (a few recommended tweaks) or Oops (needs improvement) with some specific guidance to explain in English and Spanish what specifically needs improvement. For example, if a resident has all recyclables in plastic bags, that will be noted so residents can learn to leave the items loose in the cart.

“A little more than two years ago, the county began weekly collection of 95-gallon blue lid recycling carts, which increased the volume collected,” said David Gregory, manager of Orange County Utilities’ Solid Waste Division, noting that the Orange County collects 5,000 tons a month on average. Gregory explains that it also increased the quantity of non-recyclable materials inside the carts. “We’re collecting more material and now we need to help customers better understand what we can accept,” he said.

The market value for recyclables, which had once been more robust and provided a return for materials, recently changed and it now costs counties and cities significantly more to process materials. “It is imperative that we improve the quality of recyclables in our program in order to maintain a cost-effective program in Orange County,” Gregory added.

Information about the pilot program: www.ocfl.net/recycles. Inquiries about the recycling program can be sent via email to Solid.Waste@ocfl.net or the Orange County Utilities Solid Waste Hotline at 407-836-6601.

About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government’s social media channels.

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