4/28/22 @ 9:00 a.m. - In January 2022, County Manager, Taco Pope, instituted new Customer Care Standards to govern both internal and external interactions and to create a more positive workplace environment. (See original story here)

Part of this initiative includes an Employee Recognition Program in which employees can nominate co-workers who have demonstrated Nassau County's Customer Care Standards and/or who has provided exceptional performance beyond established duties and responsibilities.

We are pleased to announce that we have two "Employees of the Quarter", John Horne and David Brown, for the period of January - March 2022. They were both given this award based on selfless actions they did together. They went above and beyond when a Nassau County resident entered the Convenience Recycle Center during a heavy rain storm and asked for assistance as she had two small children in her vehicle and was impacted by a flat tire. David and John immediately took action without regard to the weather and worked together to change her tire. Thanks to their efforts, this resident was able to get herself and her children home safely.

This is just one small example of their service and dedication to the County. Both employees work tirelessly to perform closure and post-closure activities as required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the County's landfill sites in Callahan, Bryceville and Lofton Creek. They also haul waste received at the Convenience Recycle Center to the Camden County Landfill and pull recycle bins from our sites around the County and hauls the materials to the appropriate recycling plant. 

If you see John or David, be sure to congratulate them on being Nassau County's "Employee of the Quarter".

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

4/21/22 @ 2:15 p.m. - On Saturday, April 16, 2022, the County hosted the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event. We are pleased to report that during the 4 hour event, a total of 348 vehicles came through. The event also included a food drive for Barnabas' food pantry. It has been reported that a total of 587 pounds was collected! This will have a positive impact on individuals in need right here in our community and we are grateful to everyone who made a donation.

Thank you as well to each and every resident that attended the event and did their part to ensure that harmful items are kept out of the landfill. And a big thank you to the employees at Nassau County Solid Waste and Keep Nassau Beautiful for coordinating the event, and to the public works employees who spent their morning with us clearing out vehicles for the residents, sorting materials, and placing them in the proper truck for disposal.

Below are some photos from the event. It will still be several weeks until we know the exact weight/tonnage of hazardous materials collected, but we will share that information as soon as it's available.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

4/12/22 @ 3:30 p.m. - Saturday's Waste Tire Amnesty Day event was a huge success! A total of 856 tires were collected and will be recycled. We appreciate the public who participated in this event and did their part to ensure that the tires were disposed of properly. We also appreciate the efforts of Solid Waste staff for coordinating the event and the public works employees who volunteered to assist during the event. It was truly a team effort and thanks to them, the event ran smoothly and efficiently.

Note: Below is a graphic showing the total amount of tires collected from each County district.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

4/8/22 @ 1:00 p.m. - Just a friendly reminder that the Waste Tire Amnesty Day Event will take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the Convenience Recycle Center located at 46026 Landfill Rd., Callahan.

This event is free for Nassau County residents (proof of residency will be required) and allows you to safely dispose of up to 15 light car or truck tires. Tires must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads will be accepted.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and will last until noon, or until the trucks are full (whichever comes first).

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/9/22 @ 10:35 a.m. - This edition of our Nassau Now series features information about the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2022.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

The bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Event will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022, 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
- Batteries
- Propane Tanks
- Paints and paint thinners
- And much, much more!

What: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event
When: Saturday, April 16, 2022 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

2/15/22 @ 9:15 a.m.

Nassau County Solid Waste will host the next Waste Tire Amnesty Day on Saturday, April 9, 2022, 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

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