6/4/20 @ 9:30 a.m. - The annual Waste Tire Amnesty Day will be held on Saturday, September 12th. This event allows each Nassau County household to dispose of up 15 car and truck tires at no cost, with proof of residency. Each tire should be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads.

WHAT: Tire Waste Amnesty Day
WHEN: Saturday, September 12th from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (or until trailer is full... whichever comes first)
WHERE: Nassau County Convenience Recycle Center, 46026 Landfill Rd., Callahan, FL 32011

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6702.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/14/20 @ 2:15 p.m. - The fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Food Drive Event has been scheduled for Saturday, August 15th. Types of items collected include:

• -Aerosol cans
• -Cooking oils
• -Fluorescent batteries
• -Motor oil, oil filters, lubricants, radiator fluid
• -Pesticides
• -Household cleaners
• -Propane tanks
• -Pool chemicals
• -Paint
• -Batteries
• -Electronics
• -and more!

Please see the attached flyer for a complete list of items that will be accepted.

Participants are also asked to bring a canned or non-perishable item to be donated to Barnabas Center.

This event is free to Nassau County Residents (proof of residency will be required).
No commercial loads without prior approval. Call in advance for pricing to 352-334-0440.

WHAT: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
WHEN: Saturday, August 15th from 8:00 to noon (or until truck reaches capacity)
WHERE: Nassau County Road Department, 86200 Gene Lassere Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

If you have any questions, please contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165

3/2/20 @ 4:00 p.m. - A $1.16 million effort to enhance beach cleaning and ensure clean restroom facilities at beach parks has been approved by the Nassau County Commissioners - just ahead of the busy tourism season. Firms who submitted successful responses to Request for Proposals (RFP), were awarded three-year contracts, with the option of additional one-year extensions. Beach Rakers, LLC. and Sea Bandit, Inc. began work Sunday, March 1st and will work seven days a week with extended hours.
 
“We are excited about the enhanced program,” said Danny Leeper, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). “Keeping the beaches of Amelia Island pristine is critical to our success, not only as a major tourism destination, but as good stewards of the environment. The money invested on these tasks is well spent.”
 
The costs for the remainder of the fiscal year tops $231,000. Annual expenditures for both contracts top $388,500. In prior years, expenditures for beach cleaning averaged $174,000. Mr. Leeper noted that the effort is being fully funded by Tourist Development Taxes (TDT) paid by overnight visitors staying in condos, hotels, and resorts.  “Nassau residents enjoy clean and safe beaches and facilities year-round, courtesy of our tourists. No local taxes are being used on these contracts.” The TDT expenditures were unanimously recommended to the BOCC by the Tourist Development Council, which Mr. Leeper chairs.

The contract with Beach Rakers calls for beaches to be cleaned at least once a day - 365 days a year.  They will be cleaned more frequently on major holiday weekends. Despite the name, the County contract specifies the eight miles of beach will be cleaned by hand. The scope of work also includes enforcement of the “Leave No Trace” ordinance, passed in 2016. All items left on the beach overnight will be removed and destroyed. There is no option for recovery of abandoned items.
 
Sea Bandit, Inc. is a local firm awarded restroom cleaning at a cost of $64,500 annually. During tourist season, defined as March 1st through September 30th, beach parks with facilities will be cleaned at least 4 times daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. During the off-season, bathrooms will be cleaned daily between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 
“This is the first step in improving and protecting our beaches,” said Mr. Leeper. “Over the past year, the BOCC has received suggestions from hundreds and hundreds of constituents. Clean beaches were a priority we’ve addressed. We will continue to address concerns and make changes to improve the beach experience for all.”
 
For further information, please contact Mike Mullin, County Manager, 904-530-6100.

3/21/2020 PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS EVENT IS BEING POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS


2/22/20 @ 11:30 a.m. - It's that time of year again! Begin your spring cleaning and bring all unwanted hazardous items to the Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event.

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.or until the truck is full (whichever comes first)
Location: Nassau County Convenience and Recycling Center, 46026 Landfill Road, Callahan, FL 32011

This is a FREE service for all Nassau County residents. Types of items that will be collected include:

• Pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers
• Paints and paint thinners
• Oil filters, used oil, and lubricants
• Pool chemicals
• Fluorescent lamps
• Electronics
• Batteries
• Household cleaners
• Corrosives
• Propane tanks
• Aerosol cans
• Used cooking oil

Please see the attached flyer for more details.

No items from commercial businesses will be accepted without prior approval. Please call (352) 334-0440 in advance for pricing.

A food drive for Barnabas will also be held in conjunction with this event. Please consider bringing non-perishable canned food items for donation.

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700 or Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

UPDATED 3/16/20 - DUE TO THE CDC RECOMMENDATION TO LIMIT PUBLIC EVENTS, THIS EVENT IS BEING POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE


2/26/20 @ 1:50 p.m. - The Annual Waste Tire Amnesty Day will be held on Saturday, April 4th. This event allows NASSAU COUNTY residents to dispose of up to 15 car or truck tires, free of charge, with proof of residency.

Tires must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads with be accepted.

What: Waste Tire Amnesty Day

When: Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (or until the tire trailer is full... whichever comes first!)

Where: Nassau County Convenience Recycle Center, 46026 Landfill Road, Callahan, FL 32011

For more information, please contact the Recycle Center directly at (904) 530-6702 or email bdiden@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

2/24/20 @ 4:50 p.m. - Please see the below information from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regarding bat maternity season which begins on April 15th.

For immediate release: February 13, 2020
Media contacts: Jamie Rager, 850-404-6104; Carli Segelson, 772-215-9459 

It’s bat time again: Check your home before maternity season

Bat maternity season is almost here, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding the public to check their homes and other structures for bats and seal potential entry points. Are there cracks in your chimney or holes in your siding? Bats and other small mammals can fit into these small spaces, and now is the best time to inspect your home!
Maternity season is the time during which bats gather to give birth and raise their young. Removal of bat colonies must be completed before the season starts on April 15. Bat exclusions are illegal during the maternity season, which runs through August 15. That protects young bats that are not yet able to fly, and it prevents bigger problems for homeowners.

“Maternity season is a critical time for bats,” said Terry Doonan, an FWC biologist and mammal conservation coordinator. “If they are excluded from a place where they are roosting during this time, their flightless young can become trapped inside and die.”

Florida is home to 13 resident bat species, including threatened species such as the Florida bonneted bat. Some bat species roost in artificial structures, including houses and other buildings. It is illegal to harm or kill bats in Florida, so guidelines have been developed to ensure bats are removed safely and effectively outside of the maternity season.

Exclusion guidelines on how to remove bats from buildings can be found at MyFWC.com/Bats. Materials and methods used to exclude bats can affect the success of that process. For more information on how to conduct a bat exclusion, watch this YouTube video: How to Get Bats Out of a Building. Further details on how to conduct a legal bat exclusion can be found at Bat Conservation International.

Bats are beneficial to people and are an important part of the ecosystem. Florida’s native bats help keep insect populations under control, with the average bat eating hundreds of insects a night. In addition to the benefit of keeping mosquitoes and other insects at bay for residents enjoying the outdoors, the value of insect suppression by bats to U.S. agriculture has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
There are several ways that Florida residents and visitors can help bats:

• Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities and peeling bark. Dead fronds left on palms can also provide roosting spots for bats.
• Put up a bat house.
• Report unusual bat behavior, or sick or dead bats to: MyFWC.com/BatMortality.

Avoid handling or touching bats, or any wild animals, especially if they are not acting normally. Bats, like any other wild animals, may bite to defend themselves if handled, and they can carry rabies. For more information about rabies, visit the Florida Department of Health website at FloridaHealth.gov. 
If you have questions or need assistance, contact your closest FWC Regional Office to speak with a regional wildlife assistance biologist for more information.

2/18/20 @ 4:25 p.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful is seeking volunteers for a road side clean up event taking place on Saturday, February 29th, along Amelia Island Parkway between 8th Street and Amelia Road. Interested volunteers should meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot located at 9900 Amelia Island Parkway.

Gloves, totes, safety vests, and trash grabbers will be provided. Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately with closed toe shoes and should bring bug spray, sunscreen and water.

You can register in advance here. If you have any questions, please contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165 or email knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

1/23/20 @ 1:45 p.m. - In December 2019, we shared information on an Adopt-a-Tree Workshop Series being sponsored by Keep Nassau Beautiful and Liberty Landscape. The first Adopt-a-Tree Workshop was held on Saturday, January 11th. County Extension Director, Rebecca Jordi, did a presentation on proper tree selection and how to care for them. Those who completed the class received free 3-5 gallon trees. Below are some photos from the event.

Additional Adopt-a-Tree Workshops have been scheduled. The classes are free, however pre-registration is required. Participants for these events will also receive a tree to take home courtesy of Liberty Landscape.

Below is the schedule for the remaining classes. Note: These are adult only classes and child care will not be provided.

Saturday, February 8th  from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Callahan Extension Office, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL 32011
Register here

Saturday, March 14th from 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Peck Center, 516 South 10th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Register here

Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hilliard Community Center, 37177 Pecan Street, Hilliard, FL 32046
Register here

If you have any questions, please contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165 or email knb@keepnassaubeautiful.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

1/7/20 @ 4:30 p.m. - Did you know that invasive vines are bad for our environment? Not only do they spread rapidly and overtake native species, they cause structural problems to  trees and prevent the them from getting the proper amount of sunlight.

The Amelia Island Tree Conservancy and the Nassau County Extension Office have coordinated an event to spread awareness on native and non-native vines and their relationship to the tree canopies. Participants will also learn how to manage vines on their property and develop an understanding on who to contact should you need assistance.

The event will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Song & Story Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro located at 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach. The event is free and open to the public.

If you have any questions, please contact the County Extension Office at (904) 530-6350.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/19/19 @ 1:30 p.m. - On Saturday, October 26, 2019, Keep Nassau Beautiful and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners hosted a Hazardous Waste Recycling Event in which residents could dispose of items that can't be disposed of in the regular trash including paints, electronics, pesticides, and more.

A total of 441 vehicles delivered over 42,000 pounds of hazardous materials! Below are some photos from the event, as well as a breakdown of materials collected and participants by zip code. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered, as well as to those residents who participated.

This event used to be held every year in the spring however it has been extended to twice per year due to the large amount of participation. We will share information about the next recycling event within the next couple months. If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530