FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Brigitte Kantor, Lee County Solid Waste Department
                (941) 479-8764

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 21, 2001) – Lee County Solid Waste had an extremely successful household hazardous waste collection day Saturday (May 19) at Page Field with more than 1,300 cars dropping off a variety of materials marked toxic, flammable, corrosive, dangerous, poison, and reactive.

It is estimated that 2,200 gallons of oil and 200 gallons of antifreeze were processed to be recycled. About 200 drums were filled with pesticides, pool chemicals, fertilizers, fluorescent tubes, and various chemicals and poisons. In addition, 20,000 pounds of paint was processed and will be recycled, and a large number of old car and boat batteries and propane gas tanks were brought to the collection.

Lee County Solid Waste also received two, 55-gallon drums containing old boat flares from the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla that was collected during its first "flare drive," also held Saturday.

This successful drive would not have been possible without the support of Lee County residents. Lee County Solid Waste thanks residents for their support of the program and encourages those who have not taken part in a collection day to participate in the next one to be held July 28 at Cape Coral’s Public Works Annex off Everest Parkway.

Again, Lee County thanks all participants for keeping our environment clean and safe for generations to come.