FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2017
DEP
Celebrates Florida Recycles Day with Recycling Recognition Award
~Suwannee American Cement recognized for recycling efforts~
 DEP's Division of Waste Management Director Joe Ullo presents Recycling Recogntion award to Suwannee American Cement.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection today presented a Recycling Recognition award to Suwannee American Cement, LLC, recognizing their outstanding reuse efforts and commitment to
Florida's environment and recycling goals. The award was presented by
DEP's Division of Waste Management Director Joe Ullo at the Florida
Capitol during the Florida Recycles Day celebration.
"The department is pleased to join the Florida Recycling
Partnership to celebrate the importance of recycling and recognize the
organizations and industries that are helping Florida's work toward improving
our recycling rates," said Director Joe Ullo. "We're also honored to
present Recycling Recognition Awards to three organizations that have displayed
an outstanding commitment to decreasing waste, increasing recycling and
protecting Florida's environment."
Suwannee American Cement was recognized for their recycling efforts and
commitment to Florida's environment, actively recycling more
than 95 percent of their total solid waste in 2016 through various
innovative practices. Their waste-to-fuel program processes non-hazardous
combustible waste materials such as used carpet, plastics, etc., to
produce a fuel for use in the cement production process. The plant has a
recycling rate of 95.66 percent.
Florida Recycles Day celebrates the statewide determination
of businesses and residents to ensure recycling is a top priority throughout
daily life. Hosted by Florida Recycling Partnership, stakeholders such as
Recycle Florida Today, Keep Florida Beautiful and the Southern Waste
Information Exchange were in attendance, in addition to representatives from
Publix and the Florida Beverage Association.
A collaborative statewide recycling education campaign, Rethink.
Reset. Recycle., was also announced at the celebration. The campaign is a
joint effort between DEP, the Florida Recycling Partnership, Waste Management,
MARPAN, Waste Connections, Single Stream Recyclers, LLC, and several statewide
recycling coordinators to decrease recycling contamination and encourage proper
curbside recycling techniques.
In 2016, Florida recycled 13.8 million tons of municipal solid waste,
helping to increase the statewide overall recycling rate to 56
percent. Additionally, the recycling rate has increased from 30 percent in
2011. In order for Florida to reach 75 percent by 2020, a goal established
by the Florida Legislature in 2008, the department is urging all sectors,
especially the commercial sector, to actively increase recycling
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