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Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 79 HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM RECEIVES STATE AWARD The Sarasota County Hazardous Waste Department has been recognized "for its highly successful hazardous waste collection program," a county news release notes. The 2013 North America Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) Longstanding Program Excellence Award recognizes programs with more than 20 years of service, the release adds. The award was presented at the 2013 NAHMMA Florida Chapter Workshop in Daytona Beach earlier this year. release notes. "Twenty-eight years later, the program has flourished into three permanent facilities that accept materials," it continues. Examples of hazardous materials collected are electronics, used oil, batteries, paint, fluorescent light bulbs, solvents, aerosols, pesticides, pool chemicals and hypodermic needles ("sharps"). The facilities are located at 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; 4010 Knights Trail Road, Nokomis; and 250 S. Jackson Road, Venice. "Obviously it's very gratifying to be recognized by your peers," said Brian Usher, operations manager for the Sarasota County Solid Waste Department, in the release. "By keeping hazardous materials out of our landfill and making sure they are properly disposed of, we are not only protecting the environment, but also giving residents a safe alternative for disposing of these types of products." In 2012, Sarasota County Solid Waste staff hosted 29 different mobile events with more than 1,300 participants, the release adds. "The successful campaigns resulted in more than 950 tons of material being diverted from the landfill and more than 90 percent of the materials either recycled or used for alternative-fuels processing. In addition, through a partnership with the Sarasota County Health Sarasota County Hazardous Waste held Department, the program collected more than its first amnesty day collection in 1985, the 5,000 pounds of sharps and lancets." The Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center is located on Bee Ridge Road. Photo courtesy Sarasota County