Recycle Right

We know you want to recycle. 94% of Americans support recycling and its the most common pro-environmental behavior we participate in as a nation. However, many in Hallandale Beach are not recycling "right".

What is recycling "right" you may ask? It is only putting items in your recycling bin that are actually recyclable. Currently, more than 70% of the recycling our Sanitation workers pick up is "contaminated" with items that aren't recyclable. When that contaminated recycling is brought to the recycling center any load (the whole truck) which is more than 20% contamination is sent straight to the landfill.

So what can and can't you recycle curbside in Hallandale Beach? This guide can help you make sure you're only recycling right. In short:

You CAN recycle curbside:

Empty and clean aluminum and steel cans
Empty and clean food and beverage cartons
Empty and clean bottles and jars
Dry and clean cereal boxes, newspaper, magazines, mail, flattened cardboard, and paper tubes
Empty and clean plastic containers with a recycling printed on number on it.

You CANNOT recycle curbside (this is contamination):

Plastic film including garbage bags, zipper or snack bags, plastic food wrapping
Dirty aluminum or steel cans
Dirty food and beverage cartons
Dirty or wet paper or cardboard (like oily pizza boxes, used paper towels or paper plates)
Dirty plastic containers even if they have a recycling number
Wood or metal construction debris
Styrofoam
Bulky items like plastic chairs
Plastics without a number printed on it (like berry containers)

Upset about not being able to recycle garbage bags? Consider how recycling/refuse workers have the fifth-highest rate of death on the job. Many of these deaths are caused by workers getting crushed by sorting equipment when trying to remove plastic film, like garbage bags which causes their equipment to jam. So, please don't place your recycling in your blue bin contained within a plastic garbage bag, instead, empty the contents of that bag directly into your blue bin and then throw away (or reuse) the bag.

While you can't recycle the plastic film, like shopping bags, food wrappers, and garbage bags in your curbside recycling, you can recycle it at select stores. Find a drop-off location for plastic film here.

Also, we encourage our residents to work hard to reduce their overall plastic consumption. Worldwide, only about 9% of plastics ever produced has been recycled.

King Tide Season

We're almost through September's King Tides. Next month is projected to be the highest King Tide of this year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's tide prediction data, we're expecting King Tides on the following dates:

September 16-22;
October 14-21;
November 13-18; and
December 13-15.

Please watch this King Tide Public Service Announcement to learn more about King Tides:

International Coastal Clean-Up

Due to COVID-19, the International Coastal Clean-Up is looking a little different this year. Instead of holding one large volunteer clean-up, the City and Broward County are encouraging individuals and households to carry out their own independent clean-ups wherever they feel safe to do so. The Clean-Up this year is running from September 1st to December 31st and all litter picked up during those dates counts towards the international event. The most effective way to ensure your clean-up data is collected as part of the international data set is to download and utilize the Clean Swell App to record the litter you pick up, just like you normally would on the paper sheet. Download the App at www.cohb.org/cleanswell.

If you and/or your household wants to take part in this clean-up event, please ensure you're following all City/County orders related to COVID-19 and that you're adhering to CDC Guidelines.

If you need supplies to carry out this clean-up, please email CoastalCleanup@broward.org with your contact information, how many participants you'll have, and which materials you require (gloves, trash bags, data cards, etc.).
More information is available on the Broward County Website here.

New University of Florida Climate Change FAQ
(based on Hallandale Beach Staff Training)

We're happy to announce that our friends at the University of Florida have published a Frequently Asked Questions article about Climate Change, based on questions posed at a City staff training in 2019.

Read the article today: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss682

Two Seats Available for Youths on the Sustainability & Flood Mitigation Advisory Board

The Sustainability & Flood Mitigation Advisory Board assists the City Commission to identify and recommend affordable strategies associated with sustainability, climate change, and flood mitigation. This Board works directly with the City's Green Initiatives Coordinator.

Because what we do now impacts future generations, we have designed this Advisory Board to include participation from youths who either live in Hallandale Beach or go to school in Hallandale Beach. There are currently 2 open positions on this Board which are held for individuals who are under the age of 18.

If you know a young person who has a high level of interest in helping move the City in a more sustainable direction, please have them submit an application to join this Board.

The application is available here.

Ocean Friendly Landscape Rebate

Did you know that the City has a rebate available to residents and businesses to remove some of their grass lawn and replace it with rain gardens or other green infrastructure? This rebate pays $1 per square foot of landscape converted. To get this rebate, you must apply and gain approval prior to removing any sod/grass. For more information visit www.cohb.org/coral.

Get a $100 rebate to replace your toilet

The City of Hallandale Beach partners with the Broward Water Partnership to provide residents, non-profits, and business owners rebates up to $100 to replace their old water-guzzling toilets with new, water-efficient models. If your home or business was constructed before 1994, you may qualify. Toilets are the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30% of an average home's water use. Lower your bill and conserve water today by applying for this rebate program at www.conservationpays.com.

Get in touch or involved with Green Initiatives

If you're interested in learning more about Green Initiatives or if you want to get more involved, please reach out to our Green Initiatives Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood at ajoneswood@cohb.org and visit cohb.org/green.