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Local updates: Arbor Day plantings, hazardous waste pickup and library wins Merf award
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Summary
At its Dec. 10 meeting the advisory committee set Arbor Day planning (favoring native plantings), announced a county hazardous‑waste collection Feb. 4, 2026 at Bay Oaks, and voted to grant the December Merf (Murph) award to the Fort Myers Beach Library for storing and distributing 200 boxes of children's books.
Fort Myers Beach — The Marine and Environmental Resource Task Force used routine agenda time on Dec. 10 to address community notices and awards, including Arbor Day planning, a hazardous‑waste event and this month’s Merf award.
Arbor Day: Members discussed an offer to provide mango trees for a January Arbor Day event but raised concerns about nonnative status, salt‑water tolerance and fruit attracting rodents. Several members recommended prioritizing native species or combining mangoes with native plantings; the chair said the committee was not pursuing mangoes for the Arbor Day planting after a quick consensus.
Hazardous waste pickup: Chair announced Lee County will host a free hazardous waste collection at Bay Oaks on Feb. 4, 2026, for household items such as paint and primer; the town’s public information officer will publicize the event.
Murph award: A nomination was made to recognize Liz and the Fort Myers Beach Library for receiving and storing 200 boxes of the town’s children’s books. The committee moved, seconded and voted in favor to award the December 2025 Merf award to the Fort Myers Beach Library.
Meeting housekeeping: Members were reminded to review an Anchorage advisory committee template (provided by Chris King) ahead of the Jan. 14 meeting; the committee set that date and time (Jan. 14, 10:00 a.m.) for its next meeting.
Sources: Committee discussion, Merf award motion and staff announcements from the Dec. 10 MERF meeting.
