MILTON — The Santa Rosa County Commission approved “Amnesty Day” for hazardous waste pickup and a wildflower protection resolution.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE NEEDS SPECIAL CARE
Garbage such as old paint, peroxides, electronics, batteries and antifreeze contain toxic chemicals and needs to be disposed of separately from normal trash, according to the Santa Rosa County Engineering Department.
Amnesty Day offers an easy way for residents to do that.
What we know
According to SRC Environmental Manager Ronald Hixson, Okaloosa County receives the Cooperative Collection Center Grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
SRC has partnered with Okaloosa for several years to host "Amnesty Day,” which allows residents to discard household hazardous waste at no charge.
The last Amnesty Day event, in March, collected over 40,000 pounds of materials in four hours. Approximately 2,500 pounds were saved for reuse by the public. The remaining 37,500 pounds were shipped for safe disposal or recycled.
The event cost $18,086.28; SRC paid $4,541.57; and the grant paid $13,564. SRC also received a rebate of almost $700 for the sale of recycled metal.
The grant allows for a maximum collection cost of $33,333. ($24,999.75 paid by the grant; $8,333.25 paid by the county). This means there is enough of a balance of funding to host another event of nearly the same capacity.
What’s next
With commissioners’ approval, planning is now underway for a fall Amnesty Day.
RIGHTS OF WAY TO BE USED FOR WILDFLOWER PROTECTION
Suzanne Spencer, a Florida Master Gardner, requested — on the Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners, Santa Rosa County Master Naturalists, Azalea Garden Club, Milton Garden Club, and Florida Native Plant Society for the Board of County Commissioners’ behalf — that the county adopt a wildflower resolution.
Upon approval of the resolution, the Santa Rosa Master Gardeners would take the lead in working with the Public Works Department to identify several areas along county rights of way that will be suitable candidates for wildflower preservation.
What we know
Establishing protection areas for native wildflowers is seen as a means of roadside beautification, and enhancement to tourism and natural corridors for migrating fauna. It also can help increase pollinator species, according to a letter from SRC Public Works Director Stephen Furman.
What’s next
Furman said the next step in the wildflower resolution is for the Master Gardeners to present him with a list of areas for consideration of implementation as a protection zone.
These areas, he said (likely two or three to begin with), will have existing wildflower populations, are wide enough to be meaningful, and will be wide enough for the county to mow along the roadway shoulder to create a needed safety zone for vehicles.
“I anticipate that it will be later in the summer, or perhaps early fall, before the areas of interest are formalized between the Master Gardners and Public Works,” he said. “The BOCC will not necessarily be involved in the implementation of this, but will receive periodic updates by our (public information officer).”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: County OKs hazardous waste day, wildflower resolution