1/13/22 @ 9:00 a.m. -

The Road Department removed these tires from Lanceford Creek this week after a resident reported seeing them there. As a reminder. each household can dispose of up to 4 tires per year, free of charge, at the County's Convenience Recycling Center located at Landfill Road in Callahan. The County also hosts a tire recycling event every year in April which allows residents to dispose of up 15 tires, free of charge.

So, please do not dump tires. Not only are they unsightly, they are harmful to our environment. Old tires contain chemicals and heavy metals that contaminate soil, surface water and groundwater. They also attract rodents and disease carrying mosquitos and are a fire hazard. To learn more about how tires affect our environment, please click here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

Keep Nassau Beautiful 30th Anniversary Celebration
Media Release
Contact:
Lynda Bell, Executive Director Keep Nassau Beautiful
904-261-0165
knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org

For Immediate Release

30 years in the Making - Keep Nassau Beautiful Celebrates

Keep Nassau Beautiful Celebrates 30 years of education and engagement of Nassau County residents and businesses.

Fernandina Beach, Florida, December 8, 2021. Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) recently held a 30-Year Anniversary Celebration hosted by Mocama Beer Company on Saturday, December 4th. For the last 30 years, KNB board members and volunteers have worked tirelessly to educate and engage Nassau County residents and businesses in protecting the environment and improving the appearance of our community. Current local initiatives include programs to clean shoreline or roadways, collect and properly dispose of household hazardous waste, lead educational outreach efforts, and sponsor free tree events."

The 30-year anniversary was an opportunity for the community to gather and celebrate those initiatives, as well as to continue educating and raising awareness about the important work of KNB. The event included raffle drawings for prizes provided by generous community sponsors and businesses. KNB thanks the sponsors and local businesses for their support; these donations, and the community response to them, allow KNB to continue important community efforts.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you to the Nassau County community for supporting and participating in KNB events now and over the past three decades,” said Mike Cole, KNB Board Chair. “Generous donors, sponsors, partners, public officials, and volunteers provide the resources that allow KNB to serve the community.”

A highlight of the event included the announcement and recognition of the winners of the KNB Inaugural Community Awards. The award categories included Beautification, Environmental Responsibility, and Sustainability.

The award recipients are as follows: The BEAUTIFICATION AWARD recognized Mocama Beer Company for the repurposing of a landmark Fernandina Beach building into a thriving business, and their use of Florida-friendly landscaping which adds interest and beauty to the 8th Street corridor.

The ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD was posthumously granted to Rebecca Jordi, the former Director of Nassau County Extension, and a former KNB board member and officer. Becky championed planting and beautification projects throughout Nassau County, partnered with KNB on the “We Noticed” program, and provided the educational content for KNB’s highly successful Free Tree events.

The SUSTAINABILITY AWARD was presented to White Oak Conservation. They exemplify the award criteria by saving endangered wildlife through sustainable breeding, education, and responsible land stewardship. White Oak partners with KNB and the St Marys Riverkeeper in the annual St. Marys River Cleanup, leads multiple Adopt A Road quarterly cleanup events, and provides supplies that allow KNB to reduce its use of plastic trash bags. “Congratulations to the award winners. By your example, others may be inspired to join us in keeping our community clean, green, and beautiful,” said Josh Baker, KNB Board Chair-elect. To get involved or learn more about KNB programs, 904-261-0165 or knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. Current and former KNB Board Members and Staff. Pictured left to right, Len Kreger, Lynda Bell, Mike Cole, Karen Klima, Sheila Page, Jean Mauldin, and Josh Baker.

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. KNB Inaugural Sustainability Award presented to White Oak Conservation. Pictured left to right, Lynda Bell, Brandy Carvalho, Mike Cole, Jean Mauldin, and Josh Baker.

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. KNB 30-year Anniversary Celebration, raffle drawing proceeds to support KNB programs. Pictured left to right, Josh Baker, KNB Chair-elect, and Becky Diden, Nassau County Solid Waste Recycle Coordinator.

Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org

10/14/21 @ 8:00 p.m. - The bi-annual Hazardous Waste Recycling Event was held on Saturday, October 9, 2021. While it will be several weeks before the County has information on exactly how many tons of materials were collected, Keep Nassau Beautiful counted 373 vehicles! Our generous residents also donated 611 pounds of food for the Barnabas Food Pantry.

Great job to our Solid Waste employees and Keep Nassau Beautiful for working together to provide another successful recycling event to Nassau County! Thanks to your efforts and dedication, Nassau County residents can dispose of hazardous materials conveniently and safely.

Residents, go ahead and mark your calendars because the next Hazardous Waste Recycling event has already been set for Saturday, April 16, 2022!

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/23/21 @ 10:15 a.m. - On Saturday, September 11, 2021, Nassau County Solid Waste hosted the Waste Tire Amnesty Event which allowed Nassau County residents to dispose of up to 15 tires at no charge. We are pleased to report that nearly 600 tires were collected. A big thank you to the employees for all their hard work and to the residents for ensuring these tires were disposed of properly and are not a threat to the environment.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/9/21 @ 8:10 a.m. - Don't forget that the Waste Tire Amnesty Day will be held this Saturday, September 11th at the Convenience Recycle Center located at 46026 Landfill Rd., Callahan.

This event allows Nassau County residents to safely dispose of up to 15 car and light truck tires at NO COST (must show proof of residency). Tires must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads will be accepted.

The event begins at 8:30 and will last until 12:00 p.m., or until the trucks are full (whichever comes first).

As a reminder, residents can dispose of up to four (4) per year at the Convenience Recycle Center. So if you're not able to attend the event this Saturday and have tires to dispose of, you still have options.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

 9/2/21 @ 1:00 p.m.

The bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Event will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. - noon (or until trucks reach capacity... whichever comes first).

Examples of items that will be accepted include:
- Aerosol cans
- Household cleaners
- Cooking oil (used)
- Oil, lubricants, oil filters
- Insecticides and pesticides
- Computers
- Radios
- Printers
- Power tools
- Televisions, VCRs, DVD players
- Medication
- Batteries
- Propane Tanks
- Paints and paint thinners
- And much, much more!



What: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event
When: Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 8am-12pm (or until truck reaches capacity)
Where: Nassau County Road Department, 86200 Gene Lassere Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

Please enter the facility utilizing Courtney Isles Way from Chester Rd.(see map below for details)

This event is FREE to Nassau County residents with proof of residency. Small businesses may also be approved to dispose of items for a small fee, however you must call Keep Nassau Beautiful in advance to register at (904) 261-0165.

Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/27/21 @ 11:35 a.m. - The annual Waste Tire Amnesty Day is being held on Saturday, September 11th at the Convenience Recycle Center located at 46026 Landfill Rd., Callahan.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will last until 12:00 p.m., or until the trucks fill (whichever comes first). This event allows Nassau County residents to safely dispose of car and light truck tires at NO COST (must show proof of residency). Tires must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads will be accepted.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

6/2/21 @ 5:30 p.m. - We need the public's help in remedying issues we are having with dumping around the County and misuse of the County's recycling bins.

Today, workers arrived at the Road Department on Gene Lasserre Blvd. to find that someone had filled the County's bins with items that cannot be recycled. This included gas cans, cans of paint and 55 gallon barrels filled with household garbage!

PLEASE DO NOT PUT UNAPPROVED ITEMS IN THE RECYCLING BINS! Each bin has signs stating which recyclable items are allowed. Under no circumstances does that include household waste or hazardous materials such as gas and paint.

If you do not have garbage service, please be advised that household garbage is accepted at no-charge at the Convenience Recycling Center located at 46026 Landfill Rd. in Callahan. Paint can now be taken to this location as well year-round. You can also use kitty litter to dry out your paint and make it safe to toss in with your regular garbage. Other hazardous materials such as gasoline should be brought to one of our bi-annual recycling events. We held an event in April and are already planning the next event for October.

Public Works employees spent several hours today removing the non-recyclable items from the bin in an effort to save the items that can be recycled and prevent them from being tossed into a landfill. However, it was found many of the items were contaminated from spilled paint and can no longer be recycled.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

5/20/21 @ 10:00 a.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful has received results from the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event held on April 17, 2021. While we previously reported that a total of 358 vehicles delivered items, we were waiting on the total weight of items recycle by type.

It has been reported that a total of 49,487 lbs. of materials were collected. This is an increase of 15,713 lbs. from the December 2020 event. The most common items collected were: Latex Paint; E-Scrap Materials (TVs, computers); and Alkyd Paint and Used Oil and Lubricants. As a reminder, latex paint and electronics are accepted year-round at the Convenience and Recycling Center located at 46026 Landfill Road, Callahan.

Attached is a PowerPoint presentation showing a complete breakdown of materials collected, vehicle counts by zip code, and a chart showing how this event has grown over time.

The event also included a food drive for the Barnabas food pantry. We are happy to report that over 600 lbs. of food was collected! A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation to help individuals in need.

A big thank you as well to residents who participated to ensure harmful materials were keep out of the landfill, as well as to the employees and volunteers who worked to bring us another successful recycling event.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

5/14/21 @ 9:45 a.m. -

Effective May 21, 2021, the County recycling bins located on Bailey Road in Fernandina Beach will be relocated to the Public Works Facility at 86200 Gene Lasserre Blvd. in Yulee.
 
This is the result of Nassau County no longer being the owner of the property on Bailey Rd. and the Public Works Department being moved to a centralized location within the County.
 
Attached is an aerial map outlining the recycling bin’s new location. The recycling bins can be accessed directly from Courtney Isles Way and will be open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week beginning the afternoon of Friday, May 21st.
 
We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please contact the Solid Waste Department at (904) 530-6700.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer