Celebrate holidays by reducing waste stream
With hurricane season moved out and holiday season moving in, residents are ready to decorate, exchange gifts and entertain. Lee County Solid Waste appreciates the recycling efforts and would like to remind residents of services offered at the Household Chemical Waste facility in Fort Myers.
Many residents enjoy the crispiness of a deep-fried turkey over the holidays. The disposal of leftover cooking oil is as simple as a quick drive through. Residents may drop off liquid cooking oils for free from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month. Used oils or grease should be transported in sealed, unbreakable and leak-proof containers.
Never pour used cooking oil and grease down drains. It causes costly problems for a home’s plumbing and the county’s sewer plants. In addition, do not dispose of cooking oil in regular garbage collection. It may cause spillage on roadways and make it unsafe for neighbors and collection crews.
The county would also like to remind residents to use gasoline purchased for hurricane readiness now that storm season has passed. Gasoline naturally degrades and loses combustibility over time. In the weeks leading up to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, residents dropped off over 4,600 gallons of old gasoline. Although it is recycled, it is more beneficial for residents to use the gasoline they purchased.
With the growing popularity of electronic toys and gadgets, it is important to be mindful of how to properly dispose of old electronics and batteries. Electronics without rechargeable batteries can be placed curbside with residential garbage. Rechargeable batteries should not be placed in the garbage or recycling cart — instead, bring the items to the county’s recycling facility.
There are many other ways to reduce waste this season:
– Use real dishes rather than disposable.
– Prepare only as much food as you and your guests will reasonably eat.
– Gift boxes, bags, tissues and bows can all be reused.
– Buy cards made from recycled or compostable materials.
For more information about recycling and waste disposal, download the Recycle Coach app or visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste.
The Household Chemical Waste facility is at 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers.