REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE & RETHINK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2008

CONTACT: Marguerite Jordan , (850) 245-2112 or (850) 528-8206 (cell)

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE & RETHINK

-DEP encourages Floridians to rethink habits as part of America Recycles Day Celebration -

TALLAHASSEE – Celebrating November 15, 2008 as America Recycles Day, Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a proclamation, encouraging citizens to rethink habits and increase recycling at home, school and work as well as purchase products made of recycled materials. America Recycles Day serves as a good reminder of the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling all year and encourages people to be a part of creating a better natural environment.

"Floridians must be active partners with government and the private sector in reducing waste by reusing, recycling, composting and buying recycled products," said Mary Jean Yon, Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of Waste Management. "America Recycles Day reminds us all to be good environmental stewards of our nation's limited resources."

One unique feature of America Recycles Day is the opportunity for people to sign a personal pledge to recycle. For the fifth consecutive year, DEP along Recycle Florida Today, Creative Recycling Systems, Inc. and Publix Super Markets are sponsoring the Florida (K-12) Schools Recycling Pledge Card Contest. The three schools that submit the most recycling pledge cards will be awarded with a refurbished computer. Last year, a DEP survey found that more than 86 percent of the 14,000 Floridians who took the pledge to recycle and buy more recycled products through this campaign were elementary, middle and high school students.

In 2006, Florida recycled about 24 percent of the municipal solid waste collected. By improving recycling habits Florida 's residents and businesses can protect the environment, preserve natural resources, and contribute to the economic well-being and security of our nation.

When companies make new products out of recycled materials, it reduces water and energy usage, for example:

· Recycled paper supplies more than 37 percent of the raw materials used to make new paper products in the U.S.

· Recycling also saves energy. It takes 95 percent less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making recycled steel reduces energy consumption by 60 percent while making recycled plastics reduces energy by 70 percent.

Certain plastics are some of the most common items to be recycled. DEP encourages everyone to get to know the recycling numbers at the bottom of containers and packages found within the "chasing arrows". The numbering system groups plastics into seven general categories. Of the seven, 1 and 2 are the most commonly recycled because they have the largest market for reprocessing into new materials, whereas numbers 3-7 are more difficult for manufacturers to recycle. Below is a guide to follow:

Recycling Number	Polymer Name & Abbreviation	Common Uses	Recycling Information
	Polyethylene Terephthalate PETE or PET	Used for most clear beverage, food bottles and containers.	Recycled into polyester fibers, thermo-formed sheeting, strapping, soft drink bottles.
	High Density Polyethylene HDPE	Used for milk jugs as well as beverage and food bottles and containers; dish and laundry detergent bottles; and grocery, trash and retail bags.	Recycled into various bottles, grocery bags, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, playground equipment and plastic lumber.
	Polyvinyl Chloride PVC or V	Used for packaging.	Recycled into pipe, fencing and non-food bottles.
	Low Density Polyethylene LDPE	Used in dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, compact disc jackets and squeezable bottles.	Recycled into plastic bags, various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles and tubing.
	Polypropylene PP	Used in rigid food, medicine containers and bottles.	Recycled into auto parts and industrial fibers.
	Polystyrene PS	Used in cups, plates, cutlery, packaging peanuts, egg cartons, meat and bakery trays, and take-out containers. Polystyrene is also known as Styrofoam.	Extruded polystyrene and expanded foam is not recyclable.
	Usually Polycarbonate Other	Used in reusable water bottles and beverage and food bottles.	Corn and organic-based plastics called PLA (Polylactic Acid) are not recyclable. Some #7s are recyclable.

To increase recycling throughout Florida , this summer Governor Crist signed the Energy, Climate Change, and Economic Security Act of 2008 into law which establishes a new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent to be achieved by 2020. Within the law DEP is directed to develop a program to achieve the goal and submit it to the Florida Legislature for consideration by January 1, 2010. For more information on the new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent, and to share your comments on ways to achieve this goal visit DEP's web-based forum, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/recyclinggoal75/.

Each community has different recycling guidelines, to learn about recycling in your county or city please contact your local recycling coordinator by visiting:

www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/pages/contact_counties.htm

For more information on America Recycles Day 2008 and events, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/AR/2008/ar08.htm.

View the Governor's proclamation.

Public Hearing, Monday, Nov.17, 6pm, County Center

Alert from Mariella Smith, Ruskin, FL:   Public Hearing for the horrid proposal of a new subdivision in the middle of a nature preserve plus wetlands: Monday night, November 17 at 6:00 p.m., at County Center, 2nd floor (601 E. Kennedy Blvd.). The item is #9 on the agenda. This proposed zoning change would pave a road right through the Balm Scrub Preserve (a county-owned ELAPP Nature Preserve), running north-south, connecting to county road 672. They also propose a new 4-lane road crossing Bullfrog Creek, running east-west. Both roads cross Essential Wildlife Habitat and wetlands, and would have terrible environmental impacts. The only reason for these roads is to build a big subdivision in the rural area -- the roads do not serve any current residents. (see maps: http://www.box.net/shared/6nuzrjn4e6#WestlakeMaps) The site of the proposed project (which includes multi-family townhouses in the Rural Area!) is now approved and ranked "A" for conservation as part of a larger area that the county hopes to acquire and protect under our ELAPP program as a nature preserve. This site should not be developed — it should be preserved! The proposal is for 1089 houses on 537 acres adjacent to Balm Scrub preserve, surrounded by Essential Wildlife Habitat (Gopher tortoises, Kestrels, plus deer, bobcats, foxes and more). The ELAPP preserve wraps around the east and north sides of the proposed subdivision. Bullfrog Creek runs along the west and south sides. This site is the "hole in the donut" surrounded by ecologically sensitive wildlife habitat and wetlands. AND it is almost all in the Rural Area -- outside the Urban Service Area. This is the definition of Urban Sprawl, and it will set a precedent for more expensive sprawl outside the Urban Area. This huge development will have horrible traffic implications for Wimauma, Balm, and Sun City Center, as well as anyone who travels 301, 19th Av., 674 and 672. In fact, the proposed "19th Ave. Extension" over Bullfrog Creek was recently opposed by citizens. The adamant opposition to this road was one of the reasons for the county's withdrawal of the South County Transportation Plan. This road is not supported by citizens and it is not appropriate to approve it in a rezoning without more community discussion. The project does NOT comply with the Wimauma Community Plan. We do NOT need 1089 new houses way out in the Rural Area, whose residents will have to commute to jobs and services in Tampa & Brandon. County staff is recommending approval (!), so we need to show up at this zoning hearing Monday night to try to persuade the zoning hearing master to recommend denial to the county commission, who will make the final decision at the final public hearing, January 13, 9:00 a.m. Please join us Monday night if you can, and save the date for the final hearing on Jan. 13, 9 a.m. as well. You don't have to speak — your presence alone helps. County rules say you cannot speak to the commissioners at the final hearing unless you provide oral or written testimony at the first hearing this Monday night (or have a letter in the case file). Please forward to any interested citizens. Thanks for your help! Mariella Smith,  _____________________ Get more info online: http://pgm.hillsboroughcounty.org  Login is "public" and the password also is "public." See site plans, agency comments, letters, and everything in the case file. Click on "query" and enter the case number (08-0306) where it says "tracking #"

media release-Ruskin 12/6/08

Media contact: Dolly Cummings phone: 813-363-5438 6th Annual Holiday Open House at Camp Bayou Ruskin- Camp Bayou's Holiday Open House will be held Saturday, December 6 from 9am-2pm. Our semi-annual Open Houses are a great way to see a sample of all the exhibits and activities- new and established. Admission to the Open House is free but some activities charge a small fee as noted in the schedule below. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR 674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Visit on the web at www.campbayou.org, email campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-641-8545. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 6th Annual Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 9am-2pm Schedule of Activities at Camp Bayou: 9- 11:30am: Wildlife Celebration presented by the Crawford Art Studio from the SS Regional Library. Learn about some of our common birds and create a clay sculpture of your favorite! Workshop held in Pavilion. 9am: Guided walking Tour 1- Wetland Walk. Begins at Nature Center . 9:30am– 1:30pm: Highlight Cart Tours– 20 min tours on 7 passenger cart on the half hour. Meet at Visitor's Center 10am: Aquatic Explorations – Join our naturalist to net critters in the river. Meet at Pavilion. 11 am: Guided walking Tour 2- Tortoise Trail. Begins at Nature Center . Noon: * Holiday BBQ- Annual fundraiser, Vegetarian items available. $10/person. In Pavilion. (* Reservations are not required but the BBQ fundraiser is 'first come- first served', while supplies last, so come early for a tasty selection!) 1pm: Guided walking Tour 3: River Ramble. Begins at Nature Center . Plus- On-going throughout the day: o Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum open o Leisey-Casey Discovery Center and Frank A. Garcia Research Library open o Fossil pit dig (for small fee) o Nature Center open- with docents from Girl Scout troop 508 of Ruskin o Nature Crafts for Kids– ongoing with Girl Scout Gold Awardee Janet Zicht from troop 966 o 3 trails through varied habitats o Native plants for sale o Native Peoples Camp tours on the hour w/ Ruskin History Project docents o Archaeology dig (for small fee) o Butterfly Habitat with Eagle Audubon Society All activities are family-friendly so come out and enjoy a fun-filled day while learning about the world around us in the Little Manatee River Watershed! ### photo by Dolly Cummings Pictured: Highlights from previous Open Houses. More photos available for download at http://picasaweb.google.com/campbayou/Events#

On the Trail...

More photos of interesting things to see along Camp Bayou trails although today there are also some interesting finds right around the Nature Center.
Don't miss out- Fall is a great time to take a hike. There are beautiful wildflowers in shades of purple and yellow and red- and the weather is perfect for a casual stroll.

Florida Voters Approve Funds for Open Space

Abridged from news release from Trust for Public Lands- dated November 5, 2008:   Florida Voters Approve Funds for Open Space, Despite Poor Economy   November 5, 2008…Tallahassee, FL…On November 4, voters nationwide approved $7.3 billion in new public money to protect land for parks and open space—the highest amount ever according to The Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization.   Florida voters approved three of four county measures on the ballot generating $260 million in conservation funding.  Overall, 62 out of 87 measures (or 71 percent) were passed by voters nationwide.   In Florida, Hillsborough County voters approved the state's largest measure, with an overwhelming 78 percent voting for a $200 million bond to continue Hillsborough County's program to acquire environmentally sensitive land.  Other land conservation measures on the ballot in Florida yesterday included sales tax measures in Alachua and St. Johns Counties and measure in Flagler County backed by the property tax to continue that county's existing conservation land acquisition program.   A complete list of results from local and state balloting on conservation and parks is available online today from LandVote 2008—www.landvote.org.   "Tuesday's results demonstrate sustained support among Florida voters for new investments in land conservation, even in a very tough economic climate," said Will Abberger, associate director of conservation finance with The Trust for Public Land. "Florida voters understand the need to invest to preserve our land and water resources for future generations and that's just what these ballot measures will provide funding to do."   Passage of these local measures in Florida follows a growing track record of local conservation ballot measure success in Florida; Floridians have approved 80 percent of local land conservation funding measures since 1996.   Investments in land conservation are essential to the health of Florida's communities. Such investments protect air and water, safeguard wildlife habitat, create critical recreation opportunities close to home, and boost local economies by stabilizing property taxes, spurring revitalization, and supporting area businesses.   "Whether Democrat or Republican, voters seem to be of similar minds on one issue: conservation," said Will Rogers, president of The Trust for Public Land.  "The results from 2008 continue a strong trend we have seen across the United States for the past decade: people want to preserve land in their communities, and they are willing to pay for it." ###