The Solid Waste Division is dedicated to delivering sustainable services to meet the community's ever-changing solid waste management needs. With weekly curbside collections for over 120,000 residential units, we take pride in serving our community and providing the high-quality and timely services that every resident deserves. | | | |
American Flag Rescue Program Celebrates Milestone of 31,000 Flags Rescued!
This past September, American Flag Rescue Program volunteers Viki and Mike Cofone recovered a very special flag from a collection box located at the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s Office in St. Augustine.
This flag marked an incredible milestone as the 31,000th American flag rescued by dedicated volunteers since the program’s inception! To commemorate this achievement and recognize the continued support of Tax Collector Jennifer Ravan and her staff, who generously host American Flag Rescue collection boxes at all four St. Johns County annexes, a beautifully framed, rescued 48-star American flag was presented to the St. Augustine annex for public display.
This milestone reflects the dedication of the program’s volunteers, community partners, and residents who help ensure that American flags are treated with the honor and respect they deserve.
Every day is Flag Day in St. Johns County!
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County Offices Closed
Veterans Day Holiday
In observance of the Veterans Day Holiday, the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division Offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Standard business hours will resume on Thursday, November 12th.
Solid Waste collection schedules will not be impacted.
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County Offices Closed & Solid Waste Collections Altered
Thanksgiving Holiday
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division offices will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2026. Standard business hours will resume on Monday, November 30, 2026.
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste will NOT be collected on Thursday, November 26. Collections will resume on November 27 and will be delayed by one day, with all routes being completed by Saturday, November 28, 2026.
The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road solid waste scale houses will also be closed on Thursday. Scale houses will resume standard operating hours on Friday, November 27, 2026.
| | Honoring Our Veterans and the American Flag Rescue Program Volunteers | | |
For Chris Benjamin, Outreach Coordinator with the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division, seeing an American flag discarded in the trash was something he simply could not ignore. Inspired by his deep respect for the American flag and his father's military service, Chris founded the American Flag Rescue Program in 2019, providing residents with a meaningful way to retire worn, faded, or damaged American flags with the honor and dignity they deserve.
The program holds special significance for Chris, whose father, George Benjamin Jr., served in the U.S. Army's 77th Infantry Division during World War II and lost his life in service to our country. His father's sacrifice inspired Chris to create a program dedicated to preserving the respect and symbolism of the American flag. Since its inception, the program has rescued nearly 33,000 American flags, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and community partners. Collection boxes are available throughout St. Johns County, where residents can conveniently drop off flags for proper handling. Collected flags are evaluated for reuse, repurposing, or respectful retirement through an official ceremony.
In recognition of Veterans Day, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to several dedicated volunteers whose military service, support of our armed forces, and continued commitment to the American Flag Rescue Program exemplify the true spirit of service:
- Mike and Viki Cofone – Dedicated volunteers with backgrounds in master shipbuilding and aviation, including service aboard more than 10,000 military flights.
- Donald Mine – U.S. Army Veteran
- Waine Banyas – U.S. Army Veteran
- Robert Kessler – U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Veteran
- Rick McAllister – U.S. Army Veteran
These remarkable individuals have not only contributed to our nation's military community but continue to give back through their volunteer efforts, helping collect and preserve American flags throughout St. Johns County. This Veterans Day, we proudly recognize and thank these individuals for their service, dedication, and continued commitment to honoring our nation's flag and those who have served beneath it.
Every day is Flag Day in St. Johns County!
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Sunday, November 15, 2026
America Recycles Day is dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States! America Recycles Day educates and encourages individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives.
Learn more
| | Have you recently moved or purchased large appliances? | | |
Shout out to the Solid Waste Division's Administrative Assistant Holly Howell,
A St. Johns County resident recently shared her appreciation for Holly Howell after experiencing difficulty resolving an illegal dumping concern near her property. Holly responded promptly, demonstrated compassion and professionalism, and coordinated with a Solid Waste Inspector to help resolve the issue. By the following day, the debris had been removed. The resident expressed her gratitude for Holly’s responsiveness and dedication to ensuring her concern was addressed.
Thank you, Holly, for going above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service!
| | | Trout Creek Park Cleanup
The St. Augustine Doodles hosted a clean-up on 10.24.206, where they collected 100 lbs. of litter at Trout Creek Park.
| | | Trailmark Feet on the Earth
Trailmark Feet on the Earth collected 100 pounds of litter after their cleanup this month.
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Roots Academy
FCC Environmental Services and the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division held another successful touch-a-truck event at Roots Academy!
The children loved getting an up-close look at the recycling truck, exploring inside, and meeting the driver. It was an engaging, memorable event for students, and it was wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement.
If you’re interested in holding a Touch-A-Truck event at your school, please contact our Outreach Coordinator, Lynn St. Vil, at 904.827.6908, Option 4 or wstvil@sjcfl.us.
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Enchanted Fall Festival at the Main Library
The St. Johns County Main Library was transformed into an enchanted forest to celebrate the arrival of fall! The Solid Waste Division hosted a table where children put together pirate hats and learned how recycling helps our forest and the seas.
ARRGHHH!
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Hydro Extrusion St. Augustine
Hydro Extrusion St. Augustine, a company committed to sustainability and a Zero Waste concept, hosted their annual Health, Safety, and Environmental event.
The Solid Waste Division’s Outreach Coordinator, Lynn St. Vil, engaged with employees by providing educational resources and valuable information on proper recycling practices, safe battery disposal, and simple ways to adopt more sustainable waste management habits in their daily lives. Employees learned how to become healthier, safer, and more environmentally aware at work and at home while enjoying a fun day with food and games.
On Friday, October 2nd, our outreach coordinators Lynn St. Vil and Chris Benjamin received a tour to see how every item formed and built in this plant utilizes (1) original aluminum feedstock purchased from aluminum mills, (2) recycled aluminum from scrap contractors, and (3) trimmings from Hydro’s own fabrication processing. The plant stores fabrication leftovers in grade-specific piles, and this “extra” material is fed into furnaces, remelted, and poured into molds to shape different stock types. The continuously tested recovered material goes directly back into fabrication lines, helping promote their Zero Waste objective.
| | Solid Waste Division gets behind-the-scenes tour of Mosquito Control facilities | | The Solid Waste Division joined St. Johns County Utilities for a special look at the processes behind the Mosquito Control facility and their Educational Center. The Mosquito Educational Center is open and free to the public and well worth a visit. | | | A Huge Success - Community Shredding & Lithium-Ion Battery Collection Event
The St. Johns County Solid Waste Division, in partnership with FCC Environmental Services and Shred-it, recently hosted another successful Community Shredding & Lithium-Ion Battery Collection Event at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library. The event welcomed more than 270 St. Johns County residents, providing a convenient opportunity to securely shred sensitive personal documents and safely dispose of household lithium-ion batteries.
Thanks to the outstanding participation of our community, over 10,000 pounds of documents were collected for secure, on-site shredding, along with nearly 500 pounds of lithium-ion batteries for safe and proper recycling and disposal. Events like these play an important role in protecting personal information, promoting responsible waste disposal, and keeping potentially hazardous batteries out of the household waste stream. We appreciate everyone who participated and helped make this event a success. Together, we're making St. Johns County a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable community! (Include photos from the event)
Missed the event? Join us next time! Do you have confidential documents that need shredding or household lithium-ion batteries that require safe disposal? Mark your calendar for our next Community Shredding & Lithium-Ion Battery Collection Event on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Anastasia Island Branch Library.
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🕰️From the Curbside Archives: A Second Helping of History
Before leftover turkey sandwiches became a holiday tradition, Americans were getting a simple reminder: “Use what is left.”
In 1917, a U.S. Food Administration poster created by artist Frederic G. Cooper encouraged Americans to conserve food during World War I. Its advice included buying thoughtfully, cooking carefully and serving just enough, all beneath one clear message: “Food, don’t waste it.”
More than a century later, that message still belongs at the Thanksgiving table. Planning portions and giving leftovers a second helping can help keep good food out of the trash. This holiday season, a little old-fashioned resourcefulness can go a long way.
Image: Frederic G. Cooper, 1917. U.S. Food Administration poster. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
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Download the St. Johns County Recycle Coach App
Become a Better Recycler
Download the app or go to www.RecycleStJohns.com to get your curbside collection schedule, sign up for alerts, and quickly learn how to properly dispose of different waste materials.
Download the Recycle Coach App and become a better recycler today!
Apple App Store | Google Play
| | Top Material Searches on Recycle Coach Last Month | | |
Donation or reuse is the preferred option for items in good condition. Alternatively, contact your waste hauler or bring items to a depot - please see Drop-off Locations for important details.
You can place large, bulky items out at the curb next to your regular garbage. This includes couches, sectionals, mattresses, household furniture, etc.
| | Consider donating old clothes, shoes, and linens to a local charity or nonprofit organization. | | Refrigerators and Freezers | |
Donation or reuse is the preferred option for items in good condition. Alternatively, contact your hauler to schedule a white goods collection or bring them to one of our drop-off locations.
Be aware that refrigerators and freezers can pose a serious suffocation hazard to children who may be playing in the area. Please remove the doors.
The refrigerant gas used in these items is harmful to the environment. A licensed air conditioning technician must remove this gas and certify the item prior to drop-off.
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Total Recycled
Collected Year-to-Date
24,688 tons
| Our goal at the Solid Waste Division is to divert as much waste as we can from the landfill. One of the best ways to do this is through our residential curbside recycling program. This Recycle Tracker shows how well we're doing in St. Johns County. | | |
Total Flags
Collected to date
32,117 flags
| The American Flag Rescue Program provides residents with the opportunity to properly retire flags with honor and respect. American Flag Drop Boxes are available to the public in over 35 locations throughout St. Johns County. | | |
Total Litter
Collected Year-to-Date
19,888 pounds
| The St. Johns County Adopt-A-Road program provides an opportunity for residents, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups to adopt sections of county road and help remove litter and debris in an effort to keep St. Johns County beautiful | |
| | Get more St. Johns County news by receiving our e-newsletters. | Stay informed with accurate, timely information through a blend of community outreach initiatives by the Office of Public Affairs. | | | | | | |
