Member News
A Message from FRPF Chair Donn Githens
It’s an exciting time for the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation!
I’m looking forward to seeing who will be named this year’s Recycling Champion Award winners. We received so many outstanding applications showcasing innovative programs, strong partnerships, and a real commitment to recycling and sustainability throughout Florida. Our judges certainly have a difficult job ahead of them!
We’re also looking forward to Florida Recycles Day on November 18 in Gainesville. Our committee has put together a great lineup of topics and speakers that will highlight new technologies, successful partnerships, industry innovations, and the many ways organizations are working to improve recycling across our state.
I hope you’ll join us at Florida Recycles Day as we learn from one another, recognize this year’s recycling leaders, and continue building partnerships that move recycling forward in Florida.
Donn Githens
Chair
Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation
♻️ SAVE THE DATE: Florida Recycles Day 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
University of Florida TREEO Center | Gainesville
Mark your calendar! Florida Recycles Day is coming to Gainesville on Wednesday, November 18, bringing together businesses, local governments, recycling professionals, nonprofits, students, and sustainability leaders from across Florida.
Hosted by the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation (FRPF) in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, this annual event provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn about innovative programs, and build partnerships that strengthen recycling and sustainability throughout Florida.
♻️ Smart Recycling Technology
Discover how local governments are exploring innovative software and technology solutions to increase recycling participation, improve collection efficiency, reduce contamination, and boost recycling rates within their communities.
🏟️ Recycling in Sports Venues
Hear from industry leaders and sustainability professionals about recycling initiatives, partnerships, and waste reduction efforts taking place at sporting events and venues across the Southeast.
🌴 Recycling Away From Home
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will provide an update on its Recycling Away From Home study, commissioned to better understand the impact of tourism and visitor activity on Florida’s recycling system.
💡 Industry Innovations & Sustainability Initiatives
Learn about real-world projects, emerging trends, and collaborative strategies designed to improve recycling systems, support circular economy goals, and advance environmental stewardship across industries and communities.
🏆 Recycling Recognition & Champion Awards
Help us celebrate recycling leadership across Florida!
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will recognize counties that achieved or exceeded the state’s 75% recycling goal through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainable materials management.
FRPF will also present its Recycling Champion Awards, honoring businesses, organizations, and community leaders that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability initiatives across Florida.
We hope you’ll join us November 18 as we learn, connect, celebrate success, and explore new opportunities to advance recycling in Florida.
Thank you for supporting FRPF and helping us bring together Florida’s recycling and sustainability community for a day of education, collaboration, and recognition. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Keyna Cory at keyna@flrecycling.org
Registration is now open! Click here to register!
Town of Surfside, Florida Beverage Association & Waste Management, Inc. Launch Communitywide Recycling Education Initiative
New multilingual recycling labels, community outreach and ongoing waste audits aim to help residents and businesses recycle right
TOWN OF SURFSIDE, FL — The Town of Surfside, Florida Beverage Association (FBA) and Waste Management, Inc. (WM) are partnering on a communitywide initiative designed to make recycling easier, reduce contamination, and help residents and businesses better understand what belongs in their recycling bins.
Over the coming weeks, new “Recycle Right, Surfside!” labels will be placed on recycling receptacles throughout the Town, including at single-family homes, multifamily residential properties, and commercial locations.
The easy-to-read labels provide clear visual guidance showing which materials should be recycled and which items should be kept out of recycling bins. To help reach Surfside’s diverse community, the recycling guidance will be available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
“This initiative is about making recycling easier, more accessible, and more effective for everyone in our community,” said Sandra N. McCready, Acting Town Manager & Town Clerk. “By partnering with the Florida Beverage Association and Waste Management, we are giving residents and businesses clear, practical guidance while reinforcing our shared responsibility to keep Surfside clean, sustainable, and beautiful for generations to come.”
The labels encourage residents to recycle commonly accepted materials including plastic bottles, tubs, jars and jugs; aluminum, tin and steel beverage containers and food cans; glass bottles and jars; paper; and cardboard and paperboard. They also reinforce an important recycling practice: recyclables should be placed loose in the bin, not inside plastic bags.
The label rollout is part of a broader public education campaign being developed collaboratively by the Town, FBA and WM. The campaign will use community outreach and educational materials to reinforce proper recycling habits, explain common sources of contamination and encourage residents and businesses to “recycle right.”
“Recycling works best when people know exactly what belongs in the bin,” said Liz DeWitt, President and CEO of the Florida Beverage Association. “This partnership puts clear information directly on recycling receptacles and pairs it with community education to help more materials get recycled properly. We’re proud to work with the Town of Surfside and WM on a practical program that can make a measurable difference.”
To measure the program’s impact, WM is conducting a pre-program audit of Surfside’s recycling stream to establish a baseline before the full rollout. Additional assessments throughout the initiative will allow the partners to track changes, identify opportunities for continued education and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
“Successful recycling starts with making it easy for people to know what belongs in the bin and what doesn’t,” said Jason Neal, Waste Management’s Government Affairs Director. “By establishing a baseline before the program begins and tracking the recycling stream over time, we’ll be able to measure progress and identify where additional education can help.
The initiative brings together the Town’s connection with residents and businesses, WM’s recycling expertise and FBA’s ongoing efforts to improve recycling and increase the collection of valuable recyclable materials.
Residents can learn more about what can and cannot be recycled in Surfside at //TownofSurfsideFL.gov/what-to-recycle.
Save the Date
📅 November 18, 2026
University of Florida TREEO Center, Gainesville
Mark your calendars—we look forward to seeing you at these upcoming Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation event
nts!
