Recycling in Northern Florida

Emmy Sprong & Chloe Hales

The Goal of Small Town Sustainability is to create a program that not only improves the

environmental condition of the rural south but the economic condition as well. By employing local residents, creating a community-based

recycling program, and saving the environment, our charitable business hopes to make money while also changing lives in the areas in which

we operate.

What is the Problem?• Lack of recycling in rural areas

• There aren’t a lot of people with a background in sustainable waste management

• Main industry is tourism

• A lot of poverty in the area

Why Northern Florida?

• We have a connection to the Northern Florida and as a result, have relationships with locals and local businesses in the area

• High tourism population means that the permanent residents are dependent on the revenue of tourist season

• The many stops along scenic highways such as 30A is an ideal layout for a recycling program – it’s mostly a straight shot

Recent Statistics Regarding Recycling

Statistics from Florida in 2000

• 28% recycling statewide

• 54% participation rate in curbside programs

• 50% recovery rate for yard waste recycling

Who are we looking to serve?

• Rural South as a whole

• Unemployed members of small communities

• Local businesses in these same small communities

Products & Services

• Recycled materials to be bought by larger scale companies– Tires– Plastic– Metal– Paper

• Recycling bins– Small: $2.99– Medium: $3.99– Large : $4.99

• Pick-up of recycling– $48 a year for pickup of

recycling – Can be paid in monthly

installments -- $4.00 per month

How Will Our Products Be Distributed?

1. A sales rep will travel to the interested customer’s house to deliver their bins as well as describe the program to them.

2. They can purchase our bins on the internet and will receive free pamphlets to help them understand how our program works and what they need to be responsible for in participating.

3. There will be a recycling pick up time twice a week, time will be dependent on where they live.

How it Works

Trash is Picked Up by our Trucks

After each truck makes its rounds, the products are transported back to our plant

Once inside the plant, products are separated in assembly line fashion

Once separated, they are processed

The process materials will then be sold to large scale manufacturers in bulk

Potential Benefits• Provides jobs for residents of Florida

• Sell scrap plastics, metals, and papers that are recycled

• Environmental and waste management benefits

• Save money in the long run

Potential Allies• Oil Companies

• Environmentalists/Recycling activists in the area

• Smaller towns will be receptive – provide jobs for many people in the community

• Local/Regional businesses with investment in rural areas

Why will Small Town Sustainability Work?

–We are locally staffed, scaled to accommodate the area, and people can choose how much to invest by which size bin they buy

Our success will be measured by the:– # of employees we are able to employ– # of partnerships we are able to secure– # of fully operating centers– $$$ saved by the individual states as a result

of shifting their waste management tactics