There is so much about The Villages that makes it both unique and beautiful. With property ownership comes the responsibility to maintain and, when needed, to improve standards.
Recycling is available to all residents but there is confusion and lack of information about what and when recycling occurs. We’re not a static community; new people move in and we have a steady population of first-time renters who are unfamiliar with services. And while it may be natural to assume that recycling rules here are the same as your home town, chances are you’ll lose that bet. So here’s how to find the information you need to be a responsible Villager. Go to www.districtgov.org scroll down to sanitation and collection, hit on sanitation and collection; by doing that you will find all the information you will need. You can print off the information and refer to it until the process becomes second nature. Also, you can be a good neighbor and let renters or new residents know the schedule in your community.
You may have come from a community where sorting of glass, metals and paper into receptacles is done by you on the front end. Here the contractor uses a ‘single stream’ process: you place all recyclables together in a clear plastic bag (the printout lists what these are and what should not be included). The contractor sorts out the materials using state-of-the-art equipment at their site. It’s so easy for us that there is no excuse for not making recycling part of your weekly routine.
Currently, The Villages does not provide recycling opportunities at any public location. All trash collected at postal stations, town squares, sports and recreation facilities, etc. goes into landfills. You can help. Instead of dumping those mass mailings and other unwanted mail in the trash can at the postal center, take them home for recycling. Every little bit we do adds up and will help assure our community remains a beautiful place to live.
The Villages Environmental Club is planning a trip to the recycling site in Tampa. This facility has replaced the one we previously visited in Orlando, and we understand it is state-of-the-art. If you would be interested in this trip, drop us an email at: [email protected] Please include your name email address and phone number and indicate you are interested in our day trip to see how recycling is done. As soon as we have a firm date we will contact you with the details.
Villager Marsha Shearer is a member of The Villages Environmental Club.