Recycling Now Available at Beach Access Parks

Millions of residents and visitors to Pinellas County beaches will soon find a convenient way to recycle their cans and bottles with the Gulf Beaches Recycling Program. In phase one, already in motion, beachgoers should look for new blue plastic recycling containers at Pinellas County beach access parks along the Gulf Beaches, including Sand Key Park, Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs, and beaches in Madeira Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach and St. Pete Beach. The convenient containers for recycling aluminum and plastic beverage containers will be located near parking areas so beachgoers can drop items off as they arrive or leave.

In phase two, rolling out in September, recycling containers will be added at Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin Causeway and Fred Howard Park, and public beaches along Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, Treasure Island, Redington Shores, Tiki Gardens and Park Boulevard Boat Ramp. When complete, the Gulf Beaches Recycling Program will include approximately 350 containers at more than a dozen state, municipal and county beach locations. The program is strongly supported by the Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources Department, Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater and the participating cities.

The Gulf Beaches Recycling Program will promote an eco-friendly message to the estimated 13 million annual visitors to Pinellas County, and provide the public with an easy way to recycle beverage containers beachside. Based on a recent beach recycling pilot study, the program is expected to reduce trash volume at the targeted locations by at least 50 percent. The study also indicated that 99 percent of beach visitors would recycle if given the opportunity.