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Monroe County highlights composting, recycling outreach and new 'give back' paint program
Summary
Monroe County Solid Waste Director Cheryl Sullivan told commissioners the county completed a 96‑gallon cart rollout, is launching a monthly 'give back' program for unused household hazardous materials and is expanding recycling and compost outreach to residents and visitors.
Monroe County Solid Waste Director Cheryl Sullivan on Wednesday updated the Board of County Commissioners on the department’s first year of initiatives, saying a recent 96‑gallon cart rollout reached nearly 28,000 households and that the county is launching new programs to reduce household hazardous waste and food waste.
Sullivan said the department achieved about a 99 percent satisfaction rate for the cart distribution and credited in‑house staff for a large cleanup effort after delivery problems. "The administrative staff... took call after call after call and email after email," Sullivan said during the presentation.
The department also plans a monthly “give back” program beginning March 1 to redistribute unopened, usable household products such as paint, bug spray and sunscreen that staff said frequently arrive at transfer stations. Sullivan described it as a shelf‑style program run the first Saturday of each month alongside the existing compost giveaway. "People can actually take a couple of gallons of white paint, take it home," she said.
Melody Tousshel, the county’s recycling coordinator, reported expanding outreach to schools, civic groups and new‑homeowner programs to reduce contamination in recycling and to promote composting. Sullivan and Tousshel showed a short video the county plans to distribute to Monroe County TV and to Tourism Development Council partners to educate visitors and residents about local recycling rules.
Commissioners asked about food‑waste diversion and composting pilots; Sullivan and commissioners noted recent community composting classes and the department’s interest in solar “BigBelly” public trash compactors to reduce litter in high‑use public places. Commissioner Rashawn urged additional short informational slides for hotel splash screens to reach visitors, and other commissioners praised the department’s public education work.
The presentation also addressed code compliance that surfaced during the cart rollout; Sullivan said staff relied on the county’s solid waste ordinance to correct noncompliant placement of carts and other property issues during distribution.
The board did not take a formal vote on new funding or programs at the meeting; commissioners gave the department direction to continue outreach and to coordinate with the Tourism Development Council on video distribution.
