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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2023
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County Program Named Top 100 Leader in Sustainability
Leon County Government’s Household Hazardous Waste program was named the 2022 Top 100 Leader in Sustainability by Call2Recycle, Inc. This designation is bestowed upon top-performing organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to battery collection and recycling. Through the Hazardous Waste Center, Leon County employees and residents have made a significant impact on the environmental health of the community by reducing the mishandling of hazardous household materials and diverting more than 300,000 batteries from the landfill.
“This recognition highlights the County’s commitment to making our community a place that values our environment and natural beauty as a vital resource,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Nick Maddox. “Our community can be assured that the County remains committed to delivering sustainable services through the Hazardous Waste Center and so much more.”
In 2022, almost 8 million pounds of batteries, including over 3 million pounds of lithium-ion batteries, the highest number ever collected by the program, were recycled in the U.S. Leon County's participation in Call2Recycle's consumer battery recycling program exemplifies the traits and benefits of an environmental change agent. Through the Call2Recycle battery collection and recycling program, Leon County successfully diverted over 12,000 pounds of batteries in 2022, equaling almost 310,000 AA batteries.
“This national recognition is a testament to our County’s ongoing efforts to set the highest standard in sustainability programs and services,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.
Leon County’s hazardous waste services are free for all Leon County residents. The Hazardous Waste Center, located at 7550 Apalachee Parkway, and the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site, located at 1800 N. Blair Stone Road, are both available for drop-off collection from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. These facilities are designed for the quick and convenient removal of household materials that could otherwise have negative and long-lasting effects on the environment.
“We strive to provide our citizens with a diverse array of disposal options in Leon County to ensure potential hazardous items are properly handled and recycled,” said Leon County Director of Resource Stewardship Maggie Theriot. “Each year’s increased participation is evidence of the County’s continued investment in accessible disposal and in our community.”
Call2Recycle, Inc. is committed to protecting and preserving the environment through the collection and recycling of consumer batteries and cell phones. Founded in 1994, the not-for-profit organization works on behalf of stakeholders to provide its consumer battery recycling program to consumers across the U.S. Call2Recycle is the country’s first and largest consumer battery recycling program, which has diverted more than 140 million pounds of batteries from landfills since its inception in 1994. Visit Call2Recycle.org.
For more information, contact Maggie Theriot, Office of Resource Stewardship, at TheriotM@LeonCountyFL.gov / (850) 606-5000, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov / (850) 606-5300.
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