Escambia County Recycling Program

The Department of Solid Waste Management

13009 Beulah Road
Cantonment, Fl. 32533
Phone 850.937.2160
Fax 850.937.2152
Director: R. Mark Triplett, P.E.
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management operates the Perdido Landfill, a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Facility, in Cantonment Florida. A MSW Landfill is a place where households garbage is placed for disposal. The waste is placed in the landfill and then leveled and compacted by large bulldozers and compactors. At the end of each workday a layer of dirt, mulch or similar material is placed over the garbage to keep odors to a minimum and to prevent animals and birds from dragging waste out of the landfill.
Perdido landfill uses a number of procedures to protect the environment from contamination. Two primary methods used to protect the environment are the landfill liner and gas extraction systems. The landfill liner system collects rainwater and other liquids that may enter the disposal area. These liquids, called leachate, are collected by the liner system and directed to holding ponds on Perdido Landfill for initial treatment before being pumped to the ECUA Water Reclamation Facility at Bayou Marcus for final treatment and disposal. The Landfill Gas Extraction System captures methane gas generated by the decomposition of MSW and transfers the gas to International Paper for use as an alternative boiler fuel.

The Department of Solid Waste Management offers tours to groups and organizations that wish to learn more concerning the Perdido Landfill and Municipal Solid Waste Facilities.
What follows is information and a brief description of the programs that the Department of Solid Waste Management offers to local residents. These programs, along with participation by the public, will make a huge difference in the amount of waste buried in the landfills of northwest Florida.

Household Hazardous Waste Amnesty Day

The 2nd Saturday of Every Month
8 a.m. - noon
Perdido Landfill, Cantonment
If HHW is disposed of improperly it can start a fire, give off dangerous fumes, contaminate the soil or groundwater, or cause injury to people or animals.
HHW are items in a home that can cause injury if handled improperly. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their label, such as: flammable, corrosive, poison or toxic. This includes items such as swimming pool chemicals, home maintenance products such as cleaners and drain openers, paint and paint products, fuels, gases, and their tanks, lawns and garden chemicals, aerosol cans and automotive repair and maintenance products.
The HHW is collected and repackaged. It is then transported to a facility where flammable liquids are blended into fuel, pesticides are incinerated, and any odd items are identified and disposed of properly.

Escambia County’s Drop-Off Recycling Program

The Department of Solid Waste Management operates a Drop-Off Recycling program whose primary goal is the conservation of natural resources and a reduction in energy consumption in the production of new products through the recycling of selected materials. Items eligible for recycling are aluminum cans, glass, plastic, cardboard, steel cans and newspapers. Full collection containers are returned to Perdido Landfill to be emptied. The recyclables are sorted and prepared for pickup by the recycling facility.
Please join our recycling program and be an active part of Escambia County Integrated Solid Waste Management System. Recyclables are collected at the following 14 locations throughout the county:
Cecil T. Hunter Recreation Center
3740 Stefani Road

Ferry Pass Fire Department
2331 E. Johnson Avenue

Myrtle Grove Fire Department
7209 Lillian Highway

Ninth Avenue Fire Station
6550 North 9th Avenue

Oak Grove Citizen’s Convenience Center
745 North Highway 99

University of West Florida, Parking Lot #10

Under the Water Tower
Campus Drive

Parking lot behind Big Lagoon
Sheriff Station

Perdido Landfill
13009 Beulah Road

Pleasant Grove Fire Department
9350 Gulf Beach Highway

Pensacola Beach Fire Department
901 Via DeLuna Drive

Ever’Man Natural Foods
Cooperative Grocery
315 West Garden Street

Baars Field
12950 Gulf Beach Highway

Fort Pickens Campground
1400 Ft. Pickens Road
Next to camp store

Escambia County Extension Service
3740 Stefani Road
Recycling Guidelines:

• Cans, Glass, and Plastics can be mixed together.
• Aluminum cans, tin (steel) cans, and glass containers should be rinsed.
• Do not include aluminum foil, pie tins, cooking trays, paint, aerosol, pesticide, or herbicide cans.
• Plastic items with #1 or #2 markings are the only plastic items that the County can recycle right now. For example: plastic milk jugs, soda bottles, liquid laundry detergent, and bleach containers. Remove lids and caps and throw away with your regular trash. Do not include motor oil containers.
• Newspaper and cardboard can be mixed together.
• Newspapers should be kept clean and dry. Do not include phone books, magazines, plastic coated containers (such as milk and juice cartons) or any other paper products.
• Keep cardboard clean and dry. Please flatten boxes to save space in the recycling bin.

Electronics Recycling

The 2nd Saturday of Every Month
8:00 a.m. - noon
Perdido Landfill, Cantonment
Business and residents can now dispose of all types of electrical and electron devices at Perdido Landfill. Recyclable items include computers, monitors and terminals, keyboards, mice and printers. Residents can also dispose of TVs, copiers, fax machines, VCRs, stereo systems, telephones and microwaves. Only clean, dry items will be accepted. Electronics that has been stored outdoors or have water damage cannot be recycled. For those that have large amounts of material, please call (850)937-2160 to make an appointment for disposal.
Computers comprise the majority of electronics recycling. Up to 97 percent of an old computer’s parts can be reused or melted down at recovery operations. Recyclers check each computer to see if it operates and is current enough that someone could us it. If the computer works, it is either sold or donated to organizations or people in need of a computer. If the computer cannot be used, it is dismantled for the parts inside. The circuit boards inside these units contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals that could pose a threat to the environment if not properly disposed of. The chips can sometimes be reused, but are usually melted down and used for new chips. The picture tube inside monitors and TVs contains between three and five pounds of lead (depending on the size). The front part or screen of the monitors and TVs are removed and can be used in the manufacture of new products. Televisions, radios, telephones and microwaves can be recycled but they do not produce as many recyclables as computers.

Waste Tire Amnesty Day

The 2nd Saturday of Every Month
8:00 a.m. - noon
Perdido Landfill, Cantonment
The Waste Tire Amnesty Program allows Escambia County residents to dispose of, for free, up to four tires (on or off the rim) per vehicle. Waste tires disposed of improperly are prone to fires and trap water which can lead to mosquito infestation. However, waste tires can now be used in recycling efforts. Potential use of the recycled tires is surfacing materials for playgrounds, running tracks, walking trails, or the recycler may use the material in the construction or resurfacing of roads.

“Clean it & Bring It”

Pesticides/Herbicides Container Recycling
The 2nd and 4thThursday of Every Month
8:00 a.m. - noon
Perdido Landfill, Cantonment
The “Clean it & Bring it” program for farmers enables farmers and golf course landscapers to dispose of, for free, clean pesticide/herbicide containers at the landfill. This is a better means of disposal than burning because recycling does not produce toxic fumes or smoke and lessens the danger of wild fires caused by blowing embers.
Agriculture Container Research Council (ACRC) and Escambia County Extension Service sponsors the program. The Environmental Quality Division of the Department of Solid Waste Management will receive and store the containers until enough have been collected for the ACRC recycler to come and chip the containers. The materials are made into plastic palettes, parking lot bumpers. Fence posts, and many other items.

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