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ORLANDO – Leading up to America Recycles Day on November 15, Operation
Medicine Cabinet and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP)
Easy As One initiative hosted a collection event today in Orlando. At the event,
more than 100 retail plastic bags were collected and recycled; 10 used cell
phones and 10 chargers were collected and donated to charity; and more than 70
pounds of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines were
gathered for safe and proper disposal.
“Hundreds of Floridians illustrated at today’s event how easy individual
actions have extraordinary results,” said DEP’s Director of Sustainable
Initiatives Brad Stombock. “Educating, encouraging and facilitating proper
disposal, recycling and donation of plastic bags, medications and cell phones
protects Florida’s environment.”
Proper disposal of unwanted medications is important to public safety since
wastewater treatment systems are not designed to remove many types of
medications. Residents can contaminate groundwater supply and drinking water by
flushing drugs down the toilet or pouring medications down the sink. All of the
drugs collected from today’s event will be destroyed properly by incineration.
People who brought 20 or more bags for recycling, donated a cell phone or
disposed of medicine received a free day pass to any Florida State Park. The
event was coordinated by DEP and Perma-Fix of Orlando as part of an in-kind
settlement.
For those who were unable to attend the event, many retail grocery stores
have implemented plastic bag recycling programs to make recycling easy for their
shoppers. To find a plastic bag recycling location, go to
www.abagslife.com.
Visit www.Earth911.com for information on recycling paper and many other items
such as computer monitors, toner cartridges and televisions.
About Easy As One
Easy As One - Ordinary actions. Extraordinary results. is
an environmental awareness initiative by DEP that highlights easy actions each
one of us can take to make sustainable practices part of our daily lives at
home, at school, at work and at play. As the lead agency in state government for
environmental management and stewardship, DEP encourages citizens to adopt green
habits that protect Florida’s air and water quality, conserve water and reduce
waste. A sustainable Florida depends on the collective efforts of citizens,
groups, businesses, industry and government.
About America Recycles Day
Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a
proclamation recognizing November 15 as America Recycles Day in Florida. The
proclamation encourages residents to adopt more sustainable habits,
sign a
recycling pledge card and strive to meet the 75 percent statewide recycling goal
by 2020. Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on
November 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day. More than a celebration, America
Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of
recycling programs in the United States. One day to inform and educate. One day
to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can be
accomplished when we all work together. One day to make recycling bigger and
better 365 days a year.
For more information
Easy As One -
www.dep.state.fl.us/EasyAsOne or
www.twitter.com/EasyAsOne
America Recycles Day –
www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org
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2012 State of Florida