The North American Hazardous Materials Management Association has recognized the Citrus County Solid Waste Division’s Hazardous Household Waste Program for dramatic improvements in the last few years.

Each year the association recognizes programs or individuals for environmental excellence.

The county’s program received the “Golden Bung Award” in early May at the association’s 2011 Florida-Caribbean annual workshop in Lakeland for the most improved Household Hazardous Waste facility of its members that made the most significant improvements. The “bung” refers an opening in steel barrels for storing liquid hazardous waste.

Solid Waste Division Director Casey Stephens said, “I’m very proud of the hard work and dedication of our hazardous waste personnel; this service that we provide to the citizens of Citrus County offers an environmentally safe and cost effective means to dispose of household hazardous wastes.”

The association noted that the division took over hazardous waste collection from county Fire Rescue in 2006 and started the county’s Small Quantity Generator Program in 2009. There were numerous considerations in the association’s choice for the award

The county program currently has a roster of 1,000 businesses to inspect and aims to expand that to 3,000 through County Ordinance and Rule changes.

The program’s operators have developed the Small Quantity Generator manual that is updated monthly and posted on state Department of Environmental Protection website.

While the incoming hazardous waste volume increased at an average of more than 19 percent each year since 2002, participation climbed from 85 customers per month in 2002 to 286 customers per month in 2010.

Another factor was the regular program of collection of hazardous waste instituted in 2008, is now three times per week, plus one Saturday each quarter .Also, the association noted, hazardous waste disposal costs have been reduced dramatically:

• Disposal costs decreased from a high of $1.05 per pound in 2004 to a low of $ 0.11 per pound in 2010 due to improvements in classification, processing and alternative uses.
• The total disposal of more than $91,000 in 2006 was reduced to $16,500 by 2010.
• That translated into a decrease from about $91 per customer in 2006 to $4.81 per customer in 2010.