Escambia County's

Recycling History

1990-1996* "Dirty" Material Recovery Facility (Dirty MRF). Citizens were told to dispose of all recyclables along with their regular garbage. Some of the garbage trucks were diverted from the Class I landfill to the Dirty MRF at the Perdido Landfill where approximately 30 laborers picked through the garbage and reclaimed recyclables.

1995* Blue Bag Recycling.
This six month pilot program was conducted in Myrtle Grove. The results were poor. The program was expensive, had low participation and output, and contained high levels of contamination (non-recyclables/garbage.)

October 1, 1996- present* Drop-Off Recycling Program (current program) started.
Program was and is successful and has expanded over the years. The "Dirty" MRF was renovated to a Dual Stream Recovered Materials Processing Facility (RMPF.)

July 9, 2008- Curbside Recycling Program.
Pilot program starts in East Hill. The program is a partnership between City of Pensacola and Escambia County. Recycling containers are collected once a week and garbage containers are collected once a week.

Above: City of Pensacola employees setting out

recycling containers

January 1, 2009- Curbside Recycling Program.

Emerald Coast Utility Authority begins county wide curbside recycling program.

June 15, 2009- Curbside Recycling Program. City of Pensacola starts city wide curbside recycling program and partners with Escambia County to accept the recyclable material for no charge.