Recycling in Walton County

I also like SJ's suggestion that recycling pickups be combined with a regular pickup by compartmentalizing the truck. Is that more or less it, SJ?
I think that would be less expensive.

How coincidental that Waste Management's new site went live today: http://www.thinkgreen.com/

it takes a little while to load up, but it's worth the wait.

Thought everyone would be interested in this email.​

​

Strange response. Last month he stated in a public forum, or at least I understood that we were only $20 million in debt, and we just accessed another $5 million last week. He also said that sales tax collections in Walton County were only down slightly, I think he used 10% as a number, while the rest of Florida was suffering immensely. I guess things are presented different when someone is making an argument for more money. I have also heard that the jail and courthouse were paid for by surplus collections over the past 10 years that the projects had been planned. I guess it really is hard to figure out what the truth is in numbers anymore.

Solve the problem, vote YES on Amendment 1. If they can not be straight about the money, take it away from them.

See, this is what I meant when I said it should be an easy question but the answer might not be exactly straightforward.

Can someone help frame a new set of questions for Mr. Imfeld?

I will be happy to send another email along with specific questions if anyone wants me to. Here is his email if anyone would like to contact him directly: imfbill@co.walton.fl.us.

Forgot to say, thank you, Savvy!

Thank you for starting this thread!

[/left]

Strange response.

I guess the way I'm looking at it right now, is that the county likes the idea of recycling but doesn't know how to start or fund a program. Maybe it is our role to help them along a little.

I would love to hear some more opinions and ideas on this - goodness knows I'm not really sure where to go next. Does anyone think it would do any good to contact Waste Management?

I also like SJ's suggestion that recycling pickups be combined with a regular pickup by compartmentalizing the truck. Is that more or less it, SJ?
I think that would be less expensive.

Yes, that summarizes it nicely.

I find it unbelieveable that the County doesn't know how to conduct a recycle program and that they are looking to the community for direction.

What are earth is wrong with contacting other counties to see how they do it. I know from living in Tallahassee from 1980-99 that the program there is good: we had separate bins and the trucks had separate containers much as SJ has suggested. The contractor for that program was Waste Management!
We had pickup once a week in my area.

Orlando has had a program for years--not sure who the contractor is. I know there is a ton of information available on Recycle Programs!

Why doesn't someone at the County Google Recycle and get the information!

It's not as though a curbside recycle program is a new thing!

This is what I find most frustrating about Walton County government: the people in charge are much too reactive; instead of having a vision of what our County can be--whether it's a recycle program, traffic signals; play parks, big blue signs, overdevelopment, flooded streets, unpaved streets--whatever--the leaders in this County wait for something to happen and then react, instead of planning ahead in a visionary way and helping to make our county the very best it could be.

We have (had) a beautiful area--so, they started out with a lot to work with! Why can't they lead instead of reacting?

I find it unbelieveable that the County doesn't know how to conduct a recycle program and that they are looking to the community for direction.

I think they are just not on board with the idea. They could figure it out if they really wanted to, just like they could figure out how to broadcast the BCC meetings or stream them on the internet. Neither one is rocket science.

I think if the community wants it, we are going to have to figure it out ourselves. That might be an advantage, we could actually end up with a sensible program at a reasonable cost.

I think it might be worthwhile to give Waste Management a call. I'd like to know if they are locked in to doing it the $2 million way or if they are flexible.

I think they are just not on board with the idea. They could figure it out if they really wanted to, just like they could figure out how to broadcast the BCC meetings or stream them on the internet. Neither one is rocket science.

I think if the community wants it, we are going to have to figure it out ourselves. That might be an advantage, we could actually end up with a sensible program at a reasonable cost.

I think it might be worthwhile to give Waste Management a call. I'd like to know if they are locked in to doing it the $2 million way or if they are flexible.

Good Points. I am just frustrated.
Another question: do you, or anyone, know what happens to the recycle trash that some of us now put into the blue bins? Does that get sent to the land fill as well, or is there some program(limited) that does recycle those items?

This is what I find most frustrating about Walton County government: the people in charge are much too reactive; instead of having a vision of what our County can be--whether it's a recycle program, traffic signals; play parks, big blue signs, overdevelopment, flooded streets, unpaved streets--whatever--the leaders in this County wait for something to happen and then react, instead of planning ahead in a visionary way and helping to make our county the very best it could be.

We have (had) a beautiful area--so, they started out with a lot to work with! Why can't they lead instead of reacting?

In an interesting contrast, the City of Freeport recently sent out a seven page inquiry, half of which reads like a census, asking questions about the people in the household, but the other half is asking for feedback on current services, parks, programs, etc, as well as ideas, wants, and needs for the future. Maybe Walton County could take some notes from some little old rednecks, who seem to have it together, in Freeport.

I found the answer to Goodwitch's question here: http://www.co.walton.fl.us/default.asp?id=143

Click on Recycling Information and a PDF comes up. It would not let me create a link? but it says the recycle trailers are picked up and taken to the landfill every Monday.

There are some interesting things on the county website on this topic.

In an interesting contrast, the City of Freeport recently sent out a seven page inquiry, half of which reads like a census, asking questions about the people in the household, but the other half is asking for feedback on current services, parks, programs, etc, as well as ideas, wants, and needs for the future. Maybe Walton County could take some notes from some little old rednecks, who seem to have it together, in Freeport.

Yes, and as NDY said...Walton Co. officials could do a lot more if they were of a visionary mind.....

Something is not making sense to me -

1) We already have the "blue bag" recycling program in which recyclables are picked up 2x a week at every home with the trash, just in a different colored bag.

2) Purportedly prisoners are already sifting through the regular trash for additional recyclables that were not already winnowed out.

3) We have recycling trailers at a variety of locations that are taken to the landfill every Monday.

4) The current system is not working well because the bags are breaking and people are using them for non-recyclables, causing contamination.

Why will a new recycling program will cost us another $2 million a year? Supposedly we are already picking up recyclables twice a week at EVERY home and emptying all the trailers once a week.

Better containers/smaller or stronger bags shouldn't cost $2 million and no matter what we do, people will still attempt to recycle items that aren't recyclable, so "contamination" will always be an issue.

Something is not making sense to me -

1) We already have the "blue bag" recycling program in which recyclables are picked up 2x a week at every home with the trash, just in a different colored bag.

2) Purportedly prisoners are already sifting through the regular trash for additional recyclables that were not already winnowed out.

3) We have recycling trailers at a variety of locations that are taken to the landfill every Monday.

4) The current system is not working well because the bags are breaking and people are using them for non-recyclables, causing contamination.

Why will a new recycling program will cost us another $2 million a year? Supposedly we are already picking up recyclables twice a week at EVERY home and emptying all the trailers once a week.

Better containers/smaller or stronger bags shouldn't cost $2 million and no matter what we do, people will still attempt to recycle items that aren't recyclable, so "contamination" will always be an issue.

We would feel better about ourselves?

Hey GOP - do you get your garbage picked up twice a week, or only once?

Just curious - I know it's still only once a week in most areas north of DFS; wasn't sure about your neck of the woods.

I'm not sure my friends down here realize that while we hope for recycling, NoWal is hoping for twice-a-week pickup.

They pick up twice a week down here.

Hey GOP - do you get your garbage picked up twice a week, or only once?

Just curious - I know it's still only once a week in most areas north of DFS; wasn't sure about your neck of the woods.

I'm not sure my friends down here realize that while we hope for recycling, NoWal is hoping for twice-a-week pickup.

Once a week. Not that bad until littlegop forgets to put out the trash. Then it gets a little messy around the side of the house for a week or so. He does not forget near as much since I started storing the overflow in his room.

Once a week. Not that bad until littlegop forgets to put out the trash. Then it gets a little messy around the side of the house for a week or so. He does not forget near as much since I started storing the overflow in his room.

That is funny!

Well, maybe a curbside program for all of Walton County is a little too lofty of a goal at this time.

I am looking into if there are grants out there to make it worth it for the county, but maybe we should consider alternatives.

Any updates on recycling plans for the county?

We were up in SoWal for a week and I was horrified at the amount of cr*p we threw out. I am quite relieved to be back home and filling up our two big blue bins with newspapers, cereal boxes, bottles, cans and jars.

I wish I had read this thread before we got here, and I would have known where to drop off the recyclables. We had literally no room to bring them home with us. There just has to be a better way!

Any updates on recycling plans for the county?

We were up in SoWal for a week and I was horrified at the amount of cr*p we threw out. I am quite relieved to be back home and filling up our two big blue bins with newspapers, cereal boxes, bottles, cans and jars.

I wish I had read this thread before we got here, and I would have known where to drop off the recyclables. We had literally no room to bring them home with us. There just has to be a better way!

I am happy to report that WaterColor had a huge blue bag under the sink when we arrived. I had asked about this before. We filled it to the top and beyond!

I am a big proponent of our big blue bags and the recycling effort of Walton County in general, but wouldn't you think a highway (30A)that has been named a U.S National Scenic Highway would be proceeding with plans for mandatory curbside recycling???:angry: Maybe it is just me.

I am a big proponent of our big blue bags and the recycling effort of Walton County in general, but wouldn't you think a highway (30A)that has been named a U.S National Scenic Highway would be proceeding with plans for mandatory curbside recycling???:angry: Maybe it is just me.

I have never actually seen one of these big blue bags. Where does one get them (besides WaterColor ) and how might they be distributed to renters, assuming one is not in WaterColor ?

I have never actually seen one of these big blue bags. Where does one get them (besides WaterColor ) and how might they be distributed to renters, assuming one is not in WaterColor ?

Bite Me.

Bite Me.

Stop bragging about all your customer service.

Stop bragging about all your customer service.

...did I mention the management fee? Should have TWO blue bags under the sink!

I am a big proponent of our big blue bags and the recycling effort of Walton County in general, but wouldn't you think a highway (30A)that has been named a U.S National Scenic Highway would be proceeding with plans for mandatory curbside recycling???:angry: Maybe it is just me.

Okay what has one got to do with the other?