Pictured from left to right, Pandarece Scott, toxic waste worker with U.S. Ecology, a sub-contractor with the county and Randy Menne, a Pinellas County resident who lives in an unincorporated area near South Pasadena. Menne was dropping off a trunk load of electronics.Pinellas County’s Mobile Collection program for electronics and chemicals held their annual free drop-off in Gulfport on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event was relocated from the Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th Street S., to the Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S. because of a scheduling conflict with early voting, said Rita Crouch, utilities chemist for the county. A total of 209 county residents dropped off an estimated 4,237 pounds of electronics, 1,500 pounds of chemicals including fuel, 1,100 pounds of paint and about 100 pounds of fluorescent blubs containing mercury, said Joe Fernandez, solid waste program manager for the county. If people missed the mobile recycling event, residents can use the year-round, full-time facility located at 2855 109th Ave. N., St. Petersburg Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding county-approved holidays, said Fernandez. The north county center includes the Swap Shop where paint and household chemicals can be picked up for free. The center also provides free mulch and will accept bagged garbage. For more information about the shop and center, visit: pinellascounty.org/solidwaste/swapshop.htm. Next year’s annual mobile event in Gulfport will be Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Neighborhood Center.
