The Green Awareness Taskforce had another extraordinary year. The Taskforce wants to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to SAM's Club for their $500.00 Grant Check. The Taskforce has requested that a portion of this money be used to purchase 5 wire recycling stands and bags to be used at Fort Walton Beach Sponsored Community Events. Jim Reece from the Okaloosa County's Recycling Office donated 5 wire recycling stands to the Green Awareness Taskforce. The Taskforce thanks Jim Reece from the Okaloosa County Recycling Office for this donation.
The most recent event the Taskforce supported was America Recycles Day at the Santa Rosa Mall on November 20, 2010 from 10am to 4pm. The event was sponsored and upported by Okaloosa County Recycling Office, Eglin Air Force Base, Santa Rosa Mall, David Costa from McDonalds, Ronald McDonald representing the Ronald McDonald House and the Green Awareness Taskforce. The event participation doubled in several areas with community participation collecting the following: 100lbs of aluminum cans, 2,000lbs of electronics, 930gallons of paint, 4 drums of misc. chemicals, 4 drums of pain (quarts & pints), 3 drums of aerosols, 1 drum of flammable liquids and 1 drum of flammable solids.
The 2010 Green Awareness Taskforce successes: Providing monthly speakers promoting sustainability, a 2010 Nominee for Non Profit Organization State of Florida Sustainable Award; Recycling at Billy Bowlegs, 4th of July, Dog Daze, Beach Olympics, Armed Forces Appreciation Day, Musical Echoes, Mardi Gras on the Island, continued growing grass root recycling participation in Okaloosa County Schools. Promoting complimentary Energy Audits by Gulf Power for businesses who want to find ways to reduce energy consumption to save money. Green Lodging informative workshops to promote and support lodging facilities who want to receive the State's Green Lodging Designation. Recycling on the Water (ROW) Nick Chubb, Char Gibicsar, Chris Eilertsen and Mike Wright who have continued to initiate and implement ways for boaters to recycle. (Billy Bowlegs, Emerald Coast Poker Run, ramp launches, other special boating events and Crab Island). ROW received Safety Vests from the Environmental Council.
Many Thanks for the support throughout the year to the following: Okaloosa County Recycling Office for recycling bins, bags and gloves and promoting America Recycles Day, Eglin AFB publicity promoting America Recycles Day and funding the Entertainment, Santa Rosa Mall promoting America Recycles Day, David Costa and his staff (Costa Enterprises) bringing Ronald McDonald to help promote America Recycles Day & Mike Wright (Emerald Coast McDonalds) and his staff donating supplies, trailer and volunteers at recycling events throughout the year, Okaloosa County Juvenile Correctional Program in Crestview bringing volunteers to help recycle, Waste Management providing recycling bins and containers, the City of Fort Walton Beach providing their mobile recycling trailer to community events at the Fort Walton Beach Landing and other community events and Booth Space from Gulf Coast Energy Network during Power Up Conference. Big Thanks to all Taskforce Members for their continued support attending meetings and volunteering!
Did you know that Fort Walton Beach residents can now recycle? The City is pleased to announce the start of a new recycling initiative that includes the availability of new single-stream recycling receptacles, which will be delivered to the following locations beginning the week of December 6th: Fred Hedrick Recreation Center - 132 Jet Drive NW, Country Club Avenue @ Mooney Road Tennis Courts - 713 Country Club Avenue, Garnier's Beach Park - 257A Beachview Drive NE, Docie Bass Recreation Center - 54 Ferry Road NE, Seabreeze Park - 35 Memorial Parkway SW, Tennis Center - 41 West Audrey Drive NW (Tennis Center hours of operation 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), The Landing - 131 Brooks Street SE, Chester Pruitt Recreation Center - 15 Carson Drive SE. The new single-stream recycling receptacles will replace the existing recycling trailers on Robinwood Drive SW and Country Club Avenue and no longer require the separation of recyclable items. To begin the initiative, the receptacles will be serviced a minimum of two times per week by a commercial front loader with the recyclable waste delivered to Waste Management's recycling facility. Once the level of participation is known, additional receptacles and service visits may be added. If you have any questions related to the City's new recycling initiative, please contact the Sanitation Division at (850) 833-9655.
I would like to invite all Chamber members and community leaders who are interested in Green Awareness Initiatives to attend our monthly Green Awareness Taskforce meetings the 1st Tuesday each month 815am at the Fort Walton Beach Chamber Conference Room. We have monthly speakers, promote sustainable workshops or events and sign up volunteer to help recycle at community events. For more information email: whatfootprintwillyouleave@gmail.com or visit our web-site:
http://www.gogreenokaloosa.com
January's Program: As a Chamber Member Business, What can I do cost effectively to promote Green Awareness at my Business? And Present 2011 Green Awareness Taskforce Initiatives.
Remember Fort Walton Beach Chamber Members to bring a reusable cup to the First Friday Coffee to avoid using plastic and Styrofoam and your eligible to enter the monthly Green Taskforce drawing.
Tammy McDaniel, 2011 Green Awareness Taskforce Chair
Labels: fort walton beach recycling, green economy, green initiatives, national recycling day, okaloosa county, plastic bag recycling, recycling, recycling billy bowlegs, ronald mcdonald house
