Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste Ð Waste Diversion

Chemical Waste

Many household products are toxic, corrosive, explosive, or flammable. When thrown out with other trash, they can mix with other chemicals in the garbage truck and produce toxic fumes, catch fire, or explode. Additionally, when we incinerate these chemicals at our <link to WTE section> waste-to-energy facility </a>, they can negatively impact our emissions.

When you finish with a household chemical, donÕt throw it away. Instead, bring it to the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC₃) for a free, environmentally sound alternative.

Electronic Waste

Computers and televisions fail the Toxic Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The test determines whether we can accept a material for disposal. Studies have determined that cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and TVs contain significant amounts of lead. Lead contaminates our <link to waste to energy section>incinerator ash </A> and negatively impacts our emissions. These same contaminants can leach into the landfill.

In 1999, the <link to DEP> DEP </A> awarded Pinellas County Utilities a grant to establish an electronics collection and demanufacturing program. Our new electronics collection program offers businesses, government agencies, and citizens a chance to get the lead out of the waste stream by providing a safe alternative to disposing of unwanted electronics. Since we can reuse or recycle about 90% of the electronic equipment, we encourage businesses, government agencies, and individuals to do their part to make our environment a safer one.

Household Electronic & Chemical Collection Center (HEC₃)

Every day people improperly dispose of paints, cleaners, pesticides, automotive fluids, fluorescent bulbs and poisons. Pinellas County Utilities operates a Household Electronic and Chemical Collection Center (HEC₃) to give citizens of Pinellas County a safe, FREE way to dispose of hazardous chemical and electronic waste.

The HEC₃ has four components to help both citizens and businesses manage electronic and chemical waste. The four components include the permanent Household Electronic and Chemical Collection Center, a <link> mobile household electronic and chemical collection program </a>, a <link> Swap Shop </a>, and an <link>EnviroBusiness Collection program </a>.

Mobile Electronic & Chemical Collections

Mobile Collections provide citizens who cannot make it to the HEC₃ with a way to safely dispose of household electronics and chemicals. We hold collections throughout year through partnerships with the cities and the hazardous waste contractors, <a href=Óhttp://www.crserecycling.comÓ> Creative Recycling Systems </a> and <a href= Òhttp://www.usliquids.com> US Liquids.

How to Package & Transport Chemicals

v Do NOT mix chemicals together.

v When possible, keep products in original labeled containers.

v Place containers into cardboard boxes; use crumpled newspaper in boxes to prevent breakage.

v Place leaky containers in clear plastic bags and transport in boxes with newspaper.

v Put boxes in the trunk or in the back of vehicle away from passenger.

Chemicals Accepted at the HEC₃, Mobile Collections, & EnviroBusiness Collection Days

v Automotive fluids

v Cleansers

v Fertilizers

v Flares

v Fluorescent lamps & mercury-containing devices

v Fungicides

v Herbicides

v Household batteries

v Latex-based paints

v Paint removers & thinners

v Pesticides

v Pool chemicals

v Solvents

v Wood preservatives

Electronics Accepted at the HEC₃, Mobile Collections, & EnviroBusiness Collection Days

v Camcorders

v CD ROMÕs

v CPUÕs

v Floppy drives

v Hard drives

v Interfaces

v Keyboards

v Microwaves

v Monitors

v Plotters

v Power supplies

v Printers

v Radios

v Stereos

v Tape drives

v Telephones

v Televisions

v VCRs

v Other miscellaneous electronics

Chemicals NOT accepted at the HEC₃, Mobile Collections, & EnviroBusiness Collection Days

v Automotive batteries

v Biological/infectious waste

v Empty paint cans

v Explosives

v Fire extinguishers

v Gas cylinders

v Radioactive waste

v Smoke detectors

Electronics NOT accepted at the HEC₃, Mobile Collections, & EnviroBusiness Collection Days

v Appliances

v Irons

v Vacuum cleaners

Mobile Electronics & Chemical Collection Dates

DATE	CITY	LOCATION
OCTOBER 12, 2002	SAFETY HARBOR	Safety Harbor Public Works Complex 1200 Railroad Avenue
OCTOBER 26, 2002	LARGO	Largo Solid Waste 1551 Starkey Road
FEBRUARY 1, 2003	DUNEDIN	Solid Waste Facility 810 Lake Haven Road
MARCH 1, 2003	ST. PETERSBURG	City of St. Petersburg Sanitation Administration 2001 28^TH Street North
APRIL 26, 2003	TARPON SPRINGS	Boys and Girls Club 111 West Lime Street
MAY 3, 2003	OLDSMAR	Municipal Services Center 300 Commerce Blvd
MAY 31, 2003	INDIAN ROCKS BEACH NORTH BEACHES	Indian Rocks Beach City Hall 1507 Palm Bay Blvd
MAY 31, 2003	TREASURE ISLAND SOUTH BEACHES	Treasure Island City Hall 120-108^TH Avenue
JUNE 7, 2003	GULFPORT

The Swap Shop

The Swap Shop, located at the HEC₃, offers household chemicals and paints to residents and government agencies FREE. Pinellas County Utilities staff screens incoming chemicals and those appropriate for reuse rather than disposal go into our Swap Shop.

Location

2990 Ð 110^th Avenue North in St. Petersburg.

<A HREF=http://www.mapquest.com> Directions </A>

Hours for the HEC₃ and the Swap Shop

Monday, 6:30 AM Ð 4:30 PM

Tuesday, 6:30 AM Ð 4:30 PM

Closed on Wednesdays

Thursday, 8 AM Ð 6 PM

Friday, 6:30 AM Ð 4:30 PM

Third Saturday of the month, 7 AM Ð 4 PM

The Center is closed on all observed County holidays.

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantities Generator Collection Program (EnviroBusiness Collection)

Businesses that qualify as small waste generators or CESQGs can participate in our EnviroBusiness program. A CESQG is a business that produces less than 25 gallons or 220 pounds of chemical waste per month. Many businesses donÕt realize that they even have hazardous waste they should dispose of in a special manner, but most businesses do. Hazardous business waste can include simple things, like fluorescent light bulbs, cleaners, computers, or toner cartridges, but it can also include items such as pesticides, laboratory vials, paints, and automotive fluids. Businesses should find alternate means of disposal for explosives and medical waste.

All businesses that qualify as an EnviroBusiness may bring their hazardous waste and electronics to an EnviroBusiness Collection, held at least four times a year at the HEC₃. These collections give these businesses an inexpensive, convenient way to dispose of their hazardous waste.

EnviroBusiness Collection Dates

November 13, 2002

February 12, 2003

May 14, 2003

August 13, 2003

November 12, 2003

Businesses may also bring their electronic and chemical waste to any of our <link to mobile schedule> mobile collections</A>. If your business plans to bring waste to a mobile collection, we ask that you please contact either <link to contact section>Creative Recycling Systems </A> (for electronic waste) or <link to contact section>US Liquids </A> (for chemical waste) in advance to make drop-off and payment arrangements.

EnviroBusiness Collection Rates

Our contractors offer all EnviroBusinesses the low contract rate Pinellas County Utilities has negotiated with them. Businesses pay disposal fees directly to the contractor.

Chemicals

Aerosols $1.40 per pound

Corrosives $2.00 per pound

Liquid Flammables $1.15 per pound

Solid Flammables $1.55 per pound

Oxidizers $2.00 per pound

Poisons $1.55 per pound

Oil Paint $.65 per pound

Household Batteries $.90 per pound

Fluorescent Bulbs $.15 per foot

Electronic Disposal Fee

Camcorders $.05 per pound

Keyboards $.05 per pound

Monitors $.30 per pound

Microwaves $.10 per pound

Printers $.10 per pound

Plotters $.03 per pound

Stereos $.05 per pound

Televisions (20Ó and larger) $.20 per pound

Televisions (19Óand under) $.25 per pound

VCRs $.05 per pound

Electronic Rebates

Businesses will receive rebates on the following electronics material. Our contractor deducts the rebates directly from the invoice. No cash refunds are given on the day of the event.

CPUs $.25 per pound

CD ROMs $.20 per pound

Floppy, tape, and hard drives $.25 per pound

Interfaces $.20 per pound

Power supplies $.10 per pound

Telephones $.05 per pound

Containers

All waste must meet Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping requirements. If we must package waste into DOT approved containers, the following charges will apply in addition to the cost of disposal.

5 gallon pail $10

30 gallon poly drum $20

55 gallon steel drum $25

85 gallon salvage drum $110

Marine Flares

The Problem with Flares

According to <a href=http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html#page1> 46 CFR</a>, All recreational boat owners must have pyrotechnic visual distress signal flares on board. But until now, recreational boaters in Pinellas County havenÕt had a place to safely dispose of their old flares. Throwing flares away with household or business trash presents an environmental hazard. Marine flares contain explosive materials and must get disposed of like other explosives - not an easy task for most boaters! The Fire Marshal has agreed to work with our Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC₃) to collect and properly destroy marine flares.

You can bring your flares to Pinellas County Utilities' HEC3, for destruction and metals recycling. Boaters can also bring mercury-containing bilge pump switches, old gasoline in an approved gasoline container, fiberglass resins, corrosives, solvents, and other boating products.

Good News For Boaters

The Pinellas County Clean Marina Program offers public education through brochures, seminars, and activities that provide real guidelines and solutions for protecting our waterways and marine life from pollution. Boaters learn how to prevent water pollution, how to comply with environmental rules and regulations, how to identify environmentally friendly marinas, and how to respond to pollution violations.

Boaters may bring their used and outdated flares to a Certified Clean Marina. Some certified marinas also accept used oil or gasoline; call the marina to find out what types of hazardous boating waste they accept and recycle.

To learn more about the Clean Marina program, visit the Environmental Management web page listed under ÒCounty DepartmentsÓ at www.pinellascounty.org or call (727) 464-4761.

Flare Facts

v Flares contain toxic and reactive materials, such as fuel oil and potassium chlorate. Some also contain toxic metals like magnesium.

v Florida boaters generate over 500,000 out-of-date flares annually.

v Approximately 50% of boaters donÕt know that discarded flares can harm marine life and pollute waterways.

v Throwing out-of-date flares in the trash creates an environmental hazard.

v NEVER soak flares in water! Some flares react when exposed to water.

v If you keep your out-of-date flares on board as ÒextrasÓ for emergencies, remember that over time they may not work.

v Other boating-related hazardous wastes include old gasoline, used batteries, paint and cleaning solvents, Methylene Chloride paint stripper, and bilge pump switches containing mercury.

CLEAN BOATER TIPS

v Carry a trash bag on board and never discard your garbage overboard.

v Use caution in filling your fuel tank to avoid spillage into the water.

v Bring your old flares and other hazardous boating waste to the HEC₃ or a Mobile Collection.

Certified Clean Marinas

Tierra Verde Marina (727) 866-0255

Clearwater Municipal Marina (727) 462-6954

Home Port Marina (727) 784-1443

Gulfport Municipal Marina (727) 893-1071

The <a href=http://www.dep.state.fl.us/>Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)</a> and <a href=http://www.pinellascounty.org/Environ/GoodMate.htm>Pinellas County Environmental Management</a> certify clean marinas. These marinas receive technical assistance and training to protect environmentally sensitive areas and improve public services.

Artificial Reef

An artificial reef is a recycled, underwater habitat for marine life. Artificial reefs allow a host of fish, algae and other sea life to flourish in areas where they otherwise wouldn't. It requires the efforts of highly trained employees to successfully construct and monitor the reefs throughout the year. The reef team works on board Pinellas County UtilitiesÕ construction vessel, the M.V. Tortuga. The artificial reef program uses large volumes of concrete debris to build underwater marine habitats. They take concrete culvert, cut-off cement pilings and ship hulks and carefully lower the material into the water.

Pinellas County maintains one of the largest artificial reef programs in the country to reduce the impact of large, inert material in the landfill and to increase the fish population in the Gulf of Mexico. Pinellas County Utilities operates ten artificial reef sites, 3 to 20 miles offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico. The sites targeted for enhancement are slowly transforming into highly productive habitats. Recycling construction and demolition debris to create artificial reefs keeps this material from occupying valuable space in Pinellas CountyÕs last landfill.

Concrete culverts, cut-off pilings, storm drain junction boxes and seawall slabs are some of the materials used to build artificial reefs. Size of openings, shapes, width and height combine to form truly impressive structures that attract a variety of sea life.

Go Fish!

Divers and anglers alike will find many species of fish living off our reefs. Spring and fall trigger the annual king mackerel runs. They move through the reef area feeding on schools of menhaden and sardines that are attracted to the high-profile structures. During the spring and summer months, Spanish mackerel and cobia abound.

To successfully fish our artificial reefs, it helps to understand how we build our reefs. Our crews use a high-profile, large diameter design, and vary spacing from one structure to another. The high-profile (up to half the waterÕs depth; for example, 15 feet high in 30 feet of water) should attract both bottom dwellers as well as pelagics. The large diameters (up to 60 feet) provide substantial surface area for fouling organisms and invertebrate growth.

Two methods of fishing artificial reefs seem to yield the best results. Utilizing modern electronics along with ÒreadingÓ local conditions (such as bait schools, sea turtles, and birds) will help you locate the Òunderwater pyramids.Ó Once located, establish a trolling pattern to pass over the structures. A technique known as bottom chumming usually works best for bottom fishing. Once moored in position, put suitable chum in a reusable weighted bag. Lower the bag over the reef, release the chum, and pull up the bag. The chum will help lure out the leery bottom dwellers like grouper and snapper.

Signs of Life

The first organisms to attach themselves to a new reef normally are the barnacles and filamentous algae. If we begin building a reef in the spring or summer, barnacles are more abundant; in the late fall and winter months, algae dominate the "first arrival" role. Many small fish browse on algae growth and sea urchins appear to feed extensively on this plant material.

Coral growth

After six to nine months, the reef begins supporting coral growth. Soft corals appear first and can grow two to three inches a year. Hard corals appear next, at anywhere from 12 to 15 months. Brain and star coral dominate these reefs. Hard coral grows slower than soft coral. After a year of reef growth, several types of tunicates appear.

INSHORE REEF DIRECTORY

These 13 inshore reefs augment the Indian Shores beach renourishment project. We have built these reefs close to the adjacent coastline. Each individual reef measures 120 feet by 150 feet and rises 4-5 feet off the off the bottom.

BUOY	LORAN NUMBERS
I.S.R. 1	14224.8	44780.3
I.S.R. 2	14224.6	44779.8
I.S.R. 3	14224.4	44779.0
I.S.R. 4	14224.2	44778.4
I.S.R. 5	14223.9	44777.9
I.S.R. 6	14223.7	44777.4
I.S.R. 7	14223.4	44776.9
I.S.R. 8	14223.4	44776.5
I.S.R. 9	14223.4	44775.6
I.S.R. 10	14223.2	44775.2
I.S.R. 11	14222.8	44770.8
I.S.R. 12	14221.8	44765.8
I.S.R. 13	14221.2	44762.3

OFFSHORE REEF DIRECTORY

Reef:	Latitude:	Longitude:
Tarpon Springs Reef	N 28 deg. 8 min. 15.0 sec.	W 82 deg. 55 min. 51.0 sec.
Dunedin Reef	N 28 deg. 03 min. 12.0 sec.	W 82 deg. 54 min. 33.0 sec.
Clearwater Reef	N 28 deg. 00 min. 57.0sec.	W 82 deg. 53 min. 42.0 sec.
Rube Allyn Reef	N 27 deg. 55 min. 36.0 sec.	W 83 deg. 01min. 24.0 sec.
Indian Shores Reef	N 27 deg. 51 min. 24.0 sec.	W 83 deg. 01 min. 48.0 sec.
Madeira Beach Reef	N 27 deg. 46min. 18.0 sec.	W 82 deg. 54 min. 54.0 sec.
Treasure Island Reef	N 27 deg. 44 min. 30.0 sec.	W 82 deg. 52 min. 51.0 sec.
St.Pete Beach Reef	N 27 deg. 40 min. 36.0 sec.	W 82 deg. 51 min. 45.0 sec.
Pinellas Number 2 Reef	N 27 deg. 52 min. 30.0 sec.	W 83 deg. 11 min. 24.0 sec.

Tarpon Depth: 26Õ Ð 28Õ

Tarpon consists of large expanses of live productive bottom. We have limited construction so as not to destroy any of the established live bottom. The natural bottom supports a nice population of sea bass, grunts, and snapper. You can find the artificial reef material near the south buoy.

Center Buoy:

N 28 deg. 8 min. 15.0 sec.

W 82 deg. 55 min. 51.0 sec.

LORAN:

14259.3

44935.6

Dunedin Reef 25Õ Ð 30Õ

Our reef crew built the high profile structures about 1000 feet north of the buoy. The crew also placed pyramids about 1,000 feet south of the buoy. Watch your recorder for the areas in between! Photographers armed with close up lenses and extension tubes will love this reef!

Center Buoy:

N 28 deg. 03 min. 12.0 sec.

W 82 deg. 54 min. 33.0 sec.

LORAN:

14248.1

44887.6

Clearwater Reef Depth: 27Õ Ð 29Õ

One buoy marks the center of the Clearwater Reef, the oldest reef. This reef dates back to the early sixties. Since 1999, we have done extensive construction of the high profile reef.

Using the buoy as a starting point will help you cover all the high profile structures. Switch to your chart recorder and head north, south, east, or west on the reef. The middle of the reef has a small barge.

Center of Reef:

N 28 deg. 00 min. 57.0sec.

W 82 deg. 53 min. 42.0 sec.

LORAN :(North East Buoy)

14243.5

44859.4

Rube Allyn Reef Depth: 50Õ

This reef houses a large steel barge, a prefabricated Japanese reef unit, and numerous high profile pyramid structures. To find the towers, start from the south buoy and head due north for two hundred feet. This will place you on a twin peak pyramid measuring about eighty feet long and fifty feet wide. The peaks of the pyramids measure 18 Ð 20Õ high and the structure has a diameter of 95 feet. You will find other pyramids 100 feet due east of the north buoy and on the southwest corner of the barge on the center buoy.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 55 min. 36.0 sec.

W 83 deg. 01min. 24.0 sec.

LORAN:

14212.3

44886.6

Indian Shores Reef Depth: 44Õ Ð 46Õ

Two World War II Navy landing ships (LSMs) and a salt hopper barge mark this reef. The U.S. Navy Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team from Cecil Field Naval Air Station in Jacksonville used explosives to sink the 200-foot plus LSMs, which crews filled with scrap cable. You can find one LSM 100 feet east of the south buoy and the other 100 feet west of the center buoy. The 240-foor salt hopper barge, added in 1984, rests in an inverted position, approximately 200 feet southwest of the north buoy.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 51 min. 24.0 sec.

W 83 deg. 01 min. 48.0 sec.

LORAN:

14200.0

44859.7

Madeira Beach Reef Depth: 30Õ Ð 33Õ

Madeira Beach reef has a low profile (1-2 feet) and widely scattered material. Future construction of our high profile pyramid structures should significantly enhance the fish population on this reef.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 46min. 18.0 sec.

W 82 deg. 54 min. 54.0 sec.

LORAN:

14201.0

44768.0

Treasure Island Reef Depth: 29Õ Ð33Õ

This reef received the large profile pyramid reefs first. Anglers and divers repeatedly report sightings of large grouper, snapper, hogfish, snook and big bull redfish. You will find these pyramids 1000 feet south of the buoy. From that spot, run approximately 200 feet due north to run over ÒThe WallÓ, a group of 35-40 foot long pilings stacked to resemble a wall. At the buoy, head 900 feet north. Next, switch on your recorder and head due east or west. To the west you will find two pyramids and to the east you will find three.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 44 min. 30.0 sec.

W 82 deg. 52 min. 51.0 sec.

LORAN:

14200.8

44738.7

St. Petersburg Beach Reef Depth: 34Õ Ð36Õ

As the southernmost reef, this reef could become one of the best fishing spots in lower Pinellas County. A large part of the Old Corey Causeway, sunk in 1976, lays the ÒfoundationÓ for further construction. In 1995, the U.S. Army sunk 10 surplus tanks, located 100 feet west of the center of the buoy. To augment the lower profile rubble and culvert, we have added a Òhigh profileÓ item: a 200 foot barge the reef crew salvaged from Star Island in St. Petersburg. The reef crew towed the barge and sunk it 50 feet east of the center buoy during the fall of 1984.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 40 min. 36.0 sec.

W 82 deg. 51 min. 45.0 sec.

LORAN:

14192.9

44704.1

Pinellas (Number 2) Reef Depth: 80Õ

Presently, this deep water site houses two 180-foot steel vessels, one considered FloridaÕs west coast Òbest wreck diveÓ. A diverse population of pelagic and bottom dwelling fish attracts both divers and anglers. Common species anglers and divers may encounter include grouper, snapper, amberjack, crevelle jack, Spanish mackerel, triggerfish, barracuda, and an occasional shark. The 180-foot long steel tug, Sheridan, also adds to this reef. Sight of the Black Thorn.

Center Buoy:

N 27 deg. 52 min. 30.0 sec.

W 83 deg. 11 min. 24.0 sec.

LORAN:

14181.6

44943.3

TUG SHERIDAN:

14181.9

44941.8

Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste Ð Waste Diversion

Electronic Waste

Household Electronic & Chemical Collection Center (HEC3)

Household Electronic & Chemical Collection Center (HEC₃)