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Leon County
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Item#14 January 27, 2026 |
| To: | Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board |
| From: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
| Title: | Annual Sustainability Program Status Report Including the Semiannual Report on Curbside Waste Collections |
| Review and Approval: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
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Department/Division Review and Approval: |
Ken Morris, Assistant County Administrator Nawfal Ezzagaghi, Assistant County Administrator Maggie Theriot, Director, Office of Resource Stewardship |
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Lead Staff/ Project Team: |
Kate Lovett, Sustainability Manager Cassie Romine, Solid Waste Manager |
Statement of Issue:
This item provides the Board with an annual status report highlighting accomplishments of the County’s Sustainability Program activities for the prior year and outlines programs and projects on the horizon for the next year. The item also includes the semiannual status report regarding curbside waste collection service provided by Waste Pro, Inc.
Fiscal Impact:
This item has no fiscal impact.
Staff Recommendation:
Option #1: Accept the annual status report on the County Sustainability Program (Attachment #1).
Option #2: Accept the semiannual status report regarding curbside waste collection service provided by Waste Pro, Inc. (Attachment #2).
Report and Discussion
Background:
This item provides the Board with the annual status report highlighting accomplishments of the County’s Sustainability Program activities for the prior year and outlines programs and projects on the horizon for the next year (Attachment #1). The status report reviews the activities from January through December 2025 including a detailed status of the strategic plan guiding the County’s sustainability pursuits, known as the Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP), and other achievements of the Sustainability Program. Included in the status report is an interim greenhouse gas (GHG) evaluation, which summarizes data-verified progress toward the GHG reduction goal within the ISAP (Attachment #3).
The item also includes the semiannual status report regarding curbside collection service provided by Waste Pro, Inc. (Waste Pro) in Attachment #2. Since the start of services under the new solid waste contract on October 1, 2023, County staff have worked closely with Waste Pro to ensure a smooth rollout and minimal disruption to customers. Waste Pro has continued to meet service expectations as shown by low levels of customer complaints and a reduction in liquidated damages from the prior contract period.
The Office of Sustainability’s activities and accomplishments advance the following FY 2022 – FY 2026 Strategic Initiative and 5-Year Targets:
Enact the County’s Integrated Sustainability Action Plan to further reduce the County Government’s carbon footprint. (2022-15)
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions stemming from County operations by 25%. (T5)
Double solar power generation at County facilities. (T6)
Divert 3 million pounds of household hazardous waste from landfill. (T7)
Increase the number of fully electric vehicles in the County’s fleet by 500%. (T8)
These particular Strategic Initiatives align with the Board’s Environment Strategic Priorities:
(EN4) Reduce our carbon footprint.
(EN2) Conserve and protect environmentally sensitive lands and our natural ecosystems.
Leon County is a leader in sustainability and climate change mitigation, often creating best practices in programs and policy for other local governments to replicate. Through the creation of the Office of Sustainability over 15 years ago, Leon County has delivered the nation’s first certified Net Zero renovated public building, patented a rainwater collection system reusing petroleum storage tanks, invested approximately $20 million to advance building infrastructure, and activated Florida’s first biochar facility.
Analysis:
This item provides an annual update on the Office of Sustainability’s accomplishments. ISAP activities are presented in the following three subsections for a more in-depth description of its initiatives:
A. Resource Conservation
B. Policy and Program Administration
C. Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships
Longstanding action towards climate change positioned the County to achieve its 2008 sustainability strategic plan and initial 20% Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal in 2017. Following this success, the Board approved the ISAP in 2019, establishing measures for the next decade of continued progress. Across the 18 goals and 91 supporting action items, the overarching goal of the ISAP is to reduce County GHG emissions by 30% by the year 2030. As detailed within the agenda, analysis shows that the County is on pace to meet the reduction goal.
During 2025, the Office of Sustainability continued to lead the community and County Government in driving sustainability efforts that have produced meaningful results. Explained in more detail below, the following highlights a few of these efforts:
The County has made significant progress on Leon County’s ISAP, completing 6 goals and 60 action items, and is actively working on 10 additional goals and 20 action items.
The County hosted the first two iterations of the Leon County Master Recycler Class in 2025, certifying 85 residents. The class educates and trains citizens to become ambassadors for proper waste reduction and disposal in their community.
The County purchased five additional fully electric vehicles, an important step toward transitioning 30% of the fleet to EVs and meeting the transportation goals in the ISAP. Fully electric vehicles in the County fleet saved over 3800 gallons of fuel and 23 metric tons of GHG emissions across 16 vehicles.
The County is preparing to host the 2026 Sustainability Summit in spring themed “Sustainable Threads: The Fabric of Our Community.” Held at the Eastside Branch Library, the event will incorporate a combination of indoor and outdoor engagement opportunities and showcase the unique setting of the Library and Pedrick Pond Park.
The County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program collected over 1 million pounds of material, consistent with the amount collected in the prior year. In 2025, the HHW drop-off site at Public Works saw a 31% increase in usage, reflecting the value of its central location for residents.
In the past year, the County realized approximately $1.4 million in additional utility savings from energy conservation measures, such as updated air conditioning and lighting systems, bringing the cumulative total to over $21 million from these upgrades.
Supporting the Leon County Office of Tourism and Parks and Recreation, staff have developed comprehensive plans to maximize the sustainability elements at the World Cross Country Championships in January 2026.
Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP)
The Board adopted the ISAP in 2019. The ISAP contains an overarching goal to reduce 30% of GHG emissions resulting from County operations by 2030, from a 2015 baseline. Additionally, it identifies specific goals for a variety of action areas, including energy, water, waste, transportation, food systems, and the engagement of employees and the community at large. In this way, the ISAP is a comprehensive framework that highlights the multifaceted nature of sustainability challenges. The ISAP facilitates collaboration, embeds sustainability into a wide range of County operations, and functions as a comprehensive organizing document for all County sustainability initiatives.
In 2025, a GHG inventory of County operations was completed to verify progress on the County’s carbon emissions reduction goal. Analysis of the inventory findings show that the County is on pace to meet the reduction goal, having achieved a 23% reduction since the 2015 baseline year (Attachment #3). Notable reductions include a 35.9% reduction in emissions from fleet operations, which can be attributed to the procurement of smaller vehicles where possible (i.e., ‘right-sizing'), the cultivation of sustainable driving practices among employees, the procurement of electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles, and reduction of overall miles traveled in County vehicles. Additionally, building and facilities, the largest GHG contributor, saw a 23.2% overall reduction. The three buildings that benefitted from the greatest GHG reductions saved enough energy to offset emissions from the County’s third largest building (Government Annex Building).
The ISAP contains 18 goals and 91 action items to be completed by 2030. To date, the County has made significant progress on the ISAP, with 18 action items in progress and 60 complete and/or ongoing. In addition, six goals have been completed with 10 goals in progress. Overall, 88% of action items and 85% of goals in the ISAP are in progress or complete/ongoing. A complete update on the progress achieved so far in the ISAP is included as Attachment #1. Further, an inventory of GHG emissions was conducted to evaluate progress toward the County’s ISAP reduction goals compared to the 2015 baseline. The inventory reflects 2024 emissions data, with analysis completed in 2025. Utilizing insight gained from the updated GHG inventory, additional action items will be considered to ensure the 30% reduction goal is attained.
The following subsections provide a more in-depth description of ISAP initiatives, highlights, and achievements in the areas of Resource Conservation, Policy & Program Administration, and Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships, respectively. ISAP action items and/or goals that directly tie to highlights in this item are indicated in brackets. Of note, the Sustainability Program goes beyond just the action items set forth in the ISAP. This item includes an update on these additional sustainability related initiatives.
A. Resource Conservation
The Office of Sustainability is constantly striving to find even more ways to promote and implement resource conservation methods in the County.
Fleet Efficiencies [ISAP Goals 11 and 12, Action Items 4A, 4E, 4I]
Fleet Management and Sustainability staff have continued to work together to implement new technologies and protocols to reach ISAP goals associated with advancing efficiencies in the County’s fleet. These initiatives support goals to reduce fuel consumption, procure electric vehicles, and employ strategies to support efficient driving behavior. The following highlights a few of these initiatives:
Expanding the County’s Electric Fleet: Building on the County’s prior success with fully electric vehicles, Leon County will continue to expand its electric vehicle fleet as older vehicles reach the end of their useful lives. In 2025, County Fleet Management added five fully electric vehicles, increasing the total number of electric vehicles in the County’s light-duty fleet to 16. These purchases represented five of the County’s six light-duty vehicle acquisitions in 2025, reflecting a strategic emphasis on electrification while avoiding premature replacement of serviceable vehicles. The remaining vehicle purchase replaced a gasoline-powered vehicle with a fuel-efficient hybrid, further supporting emissions reduction goals. In addition to electrification, Fleet and Sustainability staff reduce future fuel consumption by “right-sizing” newly procured vehicles to ensure each vehicle is as compact and fuel-efficient as practicable while still meeting operational needs.
EV Charging Stations: To advance electrification goals outlined in the ISAP, Leon County has installed EV charging stations at 11 Leon County facilities. In 2025, charging station infrastructure expanded to five additional facilities: J. Lee Vause Park, Apalachee Regional Park, St. Marks Buck Lake Trailhead, Public Works, and the Leon County Government Annex.
In 2025, these charging stations were used over 3,135 times, totaling more than 26,815 hours of charging time, saving more than 8,650 gallons of fuel and offsetting over 50 metric tons of CO2 for Leon County, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 861 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. The majority of usage is from County fleet vehicles, which is consistent with priority charging procedures outlined below. With this success, staff are continuing to evaluate potential future locations that can provide benefit to both staff and the public. The charging stations will be strategically installed in congruence with the onboarding of EVs. Of the 16 total chargers, 13 have built-in reporting capabilities. The remaining three chargers are heavily utilized by County fleet vehicles and, while they do not store or report charging data, they remain a cost-effective and efficient solution for fleet-only use. Together, these chargers are expected to deliver substantial fuel cost savings and operational benefits for the County.
To ensure efficient and equitable use of this growing charging network, staff developed an internal EV Charging Standard Operating Procedure in 2025. The SOP provides guidance for multiple charging configurations across County facilities, prioritizes fleet vehicle access, and supports staff awareness of appropriate charging practices. As additional electric vehicles are onboarded, staff will continue to evaluate and strategically deploy charging stations at locations that provide benefit to both County operations and the public.
Waste Collection and Reduction Strategies [ISAP Goal 7, Action Items 3Q, 3J]
Biochar Production: The County accepts yard debris at the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) from residents, landscape maintenance companies, tree specialists, City of Tallahassee residential curbside collection service, and curbside collection in the unincorporated area. Nearly 15,000 tons of debris is accumulated annually. The County is advancing the manner in which this material is processed to maximize the environmental and economic attributes of yard debris.
As such, at the January 23, 2024 meeting, the Board authorized a contractual relationship with ReCap, LLC (ReCap), where ReCap utilizes the County’s yard debris material and processing site to upcycle the County’s yard debris into biochar. ReCap’s carbon negative and patented process causes little to no noise, odor, or other byproduct, and falls below all reporting requirements of the Clean Air Act. A Florida-based small business, ReCap, identified the County as desirable due to its longstanding history in sustainable programming, and the abundance of plant material.
Beyond operational efficiencies, this partnership is structured to deliver measurable financial and environmental value. The agreement is designed to be cost-neutral, with revenue streams intended to further offset County operating expenses. Because the production of biochar is a carbon-negative process, ReCap will generate carbon credits; under this agreement, the County is positioned to receive 5% of all credits generated. This provides the flexibility to either monetize the credits for additional revenue or apply them directly toward the County’s sustainability and carbon-reduction goals. ReCap continues to make progress toward obtaining carbon-negative certification, a prerequisite to issuing carbon offsets. Separately, because of its patented process, ReCap is exploring certification of methane avoidance relative to the County’s previous practices, with the potential to generate additional methane avoidance credits. ReCap has sold biochar to agricultural operations in the Southeast and continues to engage in research for its use in other non-agricultural applications.
The County’s agreement requires ReCap to scale up operations through a two-stage process. Step one is to expand equipment capacity, allowing for a greater quantity of the County’s yard debris to be processed by ReCap. This milestone has been achieved, with production of nearly 1,250 tons of yard debris into carbon-storing biochar in 2025, over 10 times the amount processed in 2024. ReCap is now further scaling to the second phase, becoming fully responsible for processing all inbound yard waste received at the County’s SWMF. Should ReCap sustain this fully scaled phase, the agreement will activate long-term standards for a term of five years, with the option of five additional one-year renewals.
Statewide 75% Recycling Goal: Florida’s 75% recycling goal is a statewide initiative to reduce the amount of solid waste that ends up in landfills. In 2008, the Florida Legislature set a goal for the state to recycle at least 75% of municipal solid waste by the year 2020. The State’s initiative is a weight-based goal, giving more emphasis to heavier materials such as concrete while giving less focus to traditional materials such as metal cans and plastic bottles. As a result, dense materials such as construction and demolition debris (C&D) and yard debris make up a significant percentage of the annual recycling and waste tonnage. Even subtle changes in the categories of C&D and yard debris result in a notable shift in reported recycling rates.
Though the goal was set for 2020, there is no sunset date; therefore, the State strives to meet the 75% statewide recycling goal until new legislative direction is provided. Florida monitors recycling rates by county. To monitor progress, each county is requested to submit reports annually to the State that reflect waste disposal and diversion across the entire community, including waste streams outside of the influence of the County Government such as large private retailers (i.e., Walmart, Publix), public entities (i.e., Florida State University, City of Tallahassee), and private construction operations (i.e., Crowder Excavating, Sandco). As such, the County (which does not have the authority to mandate recycling standards for contributing public and private entities) facilitates gathering the requested data and is responsible for submitting the report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
The State’s annual recycling report, authored each March and published in July, provides a critical benchmark for local programs; however, the current data highlights the limitations of Florida’s weight-based reporting structure. For the 2024 calendar year, Leon County recorded a 37% recycling rate against a statewide average of 49%. This figure is largely indicative of a reduction in heavy Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris rather than a failure in consumer habits. While recycling for common commodities—such as plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum—remains steady, these light-weight materials have a negligible impact on a weight-based metric. This disconnect between program effort and statistical outcome was the catalyst for HB 295 during the 2025 State Legislative Session. Although the bill passed both the House and Senate before being vetoed, it would have directed the FDEP to modernize the reporting structure to de-emphasize weight-based metrics in favor of more comprehensive waste reduction goals. Until the legislature provides further authorization, the County remains bound by the original weight-based reporting framework, which may not fully reflect the actual sustainability progress of our community.
Curbside Recycling tags: Residential curbside recycling participation in Leon County remains consistent, and proper bin use continues to support low contamination rates at Marpan Recycling. To further strengthen recycling effectiveness and expand education efforts, the County is exploring an approach consistent with industry best practices and the City of Tallahassee’s contamination mitigation efforts that would authorize Waste Pro to remove recycling carts from customers with repeated and significant contamination. This effort targets households that misuse recycling bins, including using them as secondary garbage receptacles, which can result in costly truck rerouting to the Leon County Transfer Station and diversion of entire loads from recycling.
Staff developed bilingual hanging tags for Waste Pro to place on carts during regular routes to reinforce recycling guidelines and provide resources. The tags initiate a progressive notification process, with follow-up notices for continued misuse and removal of the recycling cart after a third notice, with the option for the resident to add an additional garbage cart to meet disposal needs.
Hazardous Waste: The County’s Hazardous Waste Center experienced a 7% increase of hazardous waste material collected and an increase in both residential and small business customers from 2024. The Center accepted 1,097,396 pounds of materials, recycled 571,603 pounds of materials, and reused over 104,000 pounds of potentially hazardous materials from 18,578 residents, small businesses, and organizations. The household hazardous waste drop-off site located at Public Works continues to be successful and saw an additional 31% increase in tonnage from 2024.
Compost Bins: Backyard composting is helpful to avoid food waste being landfilled. To support composting in the community, the Office of Sustainability started regular compost bin sales for citizens in 2021. Units are sold at wholesale prices to make home composting more affordable. To make the program more equitable and accessible to all citizens, free compost bins were provided to citizens who demonstrated a financial need. In a continued effort, there were two compost events in 2025 distributing 117 bins. A total of 1,069 compost bins has been distributed to date. Since 2021, the Office of Sustainability has also continued to monitor the community compost drop-off site located at the SWMF.
Master Recycler Class: The Master Recyclers Class empowers Leon County residents to reduce waste, recycle effectively, and become recycling “superheroes” in their community. Through hands-on learning and local insights, participants gained the skills and knowledge to guide others in creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on personal waste reduction and offers a mental framework to guide decision-making around what items can be recycled, recognizing that recycling is often a nuanced topic. Two events were held in February and August, certifying 85 residents through the program. Staff anticipate hosting at least one more in-person session in 2026 in addition to launching an online version that will expand access to the broader community. A “mini” Master Recycler Class has become popular for small groups, especially for workplace education both internally and for outside organizations.
Tallahassee Donation Directory: Following the first Master Recycler Class in February 2025, staff explored options to create a resource guide to connect residents with local community organizations that help divert waste from the landfill. During this process, staff engaged with the recently launched Tallahassee Donation Directory (TLHDD) website and found that an extensive list of organizations accepting donations of all kinds already existed. This comprehensive resource, created and maintained by a dedicated Leon County resident, serves as a centralized hub for residents seeking responsible donation options. With over 200 listed organizations, the directory helps divert usable items from the landfill by connecting individuals with local organizations and outlets that accept donated goods. Leon County maintains an information-sharing collaboration with the Tallahassee Donation Directory to help amplify the resource to residents through existing County outreach channels. The County has promoted the Directory on social media, at in-person waste reduction events such as the Master Recycler Class, and in the Leon County Waste Disposal Guide. Additionally, the Directory gained insight into County resources that are now listed such as the ReNew Center at the Solid Waste Management Facility and Tire Amnesty Days. Local organizations such as the TLHDD play a valuable role in waste reduction education by emphasizing that reduction and reuse have a greater positive impact on the environment and the community than recycling and landfilling.
Waste Pro Semiannual Update: At the March 21, 2023 meeting, the Board approved continuing service with Waste Pro through a new solicitation for a Solid Waste Franchise Agreement. At that same meeting, the Board directed staff to prepare semi-annual status reports regarding Waste Pro’s performance under the new contract to ensure that Waste Pro meets the expectations of the Agreement. Following this transition, staff continues to work closely with Waste Pro to ensure that contract standards are met. Enhanced contractual standards alongside operational improvements by Waste Pro have continued to contribute to an acceptable level of service. Liquidated damages steadily decreased following the commencement of services and the number of legitimate complaints has remained at a relatively low number (Attachment #2).
In addition to levied liquidated damages, the volume and nature of customer calls is another indicator used to monitor Waste Pro service. Since commencement in October 2023, calls remain low with wait times averaging one minute and twenty seconds. Staff continue to actively engage with Waste Pro and monitor contract performance to ensure satisfactory service levels are achieved and maintained
Energy Conservation Measures [ISAP Action Items 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1F, 1Q, IU]
Energy conservation initiatives have the most significant return on investment, in terms of both cost-savings and GHG emissions reductions. Goals and action items in the ISAP ensure continued success through innovations in tracking and reporting, as well as identifying new opportunities for efficiencies.
Energy Savings Contract (ESCO): The County has made considerable strides in implementing energy conservation measures, such as efficient air conditioning units, lighting, and water fixtures. The County’s most notable energy reduction efforts have been made through largescale infrastructure projects provided through ESCOs. An ESCO is a financing mechanism that uses energy savings to pay for capital improvements to a building. The ESCO provides for the installation of new building infrastructure such as lighting or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems then recoups the cost of the infrastructure upgrades through reduced utility bills. The payback terms are typically 20 years. As with any ESCO, energy savings are guaranteed by the competitively selected contractor. In 2005, Leon County entered its first ESCO and then again in 2008.
Building on past accomplishments, the Board authorized an ESCO contract valued at $17 million dollars in 2020. Successfully completed in September 2022, the project consisted of lighting upgrades, water conservation, and weatherization of County facilities. The recent project has saved $1,300,000 in the third year for a total of more than $4.5 million in savings since completion in 2022. Building electrification accounts for the largest portion of the County’s GHG emissions, thus these projects will contribute greatly to the County’s goal of reducing 30% of GHG from government operations by 2030, from the 2015 baseline.
Solar Energy Production: In 2022, Leon County set a Bold goal to double solar production by 2026. Since then, the inventory of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays on County facilities has continued to expand, with arrays at the Eastside Branch Library, Sustainable Demonstration Center, Office of Resource Stewardship (ORS), Transfer Station, Northeast Branch Library, Fleet Management, and Apalachee Regional Park. Collectively, the County’s solar arrays produced 239.11 MWhs (MegaWatt hours) of renewable energy, which is enough electricity to power 16 homes for one year, or the equivalent of taking 28 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.
In 2025, the Board authorized a continuing services contract to a Florida-based solar vendor. This postures the County to complete significant solar expansion in 2026 and continue gradual additions as funds become available. Two projects are anticipated for 2026 at the Public Works and Courthouse Annex buildings which are projected to offset energy consumption by 34% and 20%, respectively. These arrays would increase the County’s solar capacity by over 142 kilowatts, bringing the total production capacity to 328.4 kW and meeting the Bold Goal Target of doubling solar production.
Water Bottle Filling Stations [ISAP Action Item 2G]
Water bottle filling stations have been installed in various County buildings to encourage County employees and visitors to stay healthy by drinking more water while simultaneously reducing the number of plastic water bottles used. There are currently 47 stations installed across 21 County facilities, and they have collectively saved more than 1 million plastic water bottles from being used.
B. Policy & Program Administration
Staff has implemented and is continuing to develop various policies and programs to expand the Program’s reach and improve services.
Employee Engagement in Sustainability [ISAP Goals 13 and 15, and Action Items 4F, 5C, 5K]
The Office of Sustainability continues to engage County employees to integrate best practices into the day-to-day work life. The following initiatives are examples of engagement with the County workforce:
Green Employee Award: The first Green Employee Award will be designated in 2026 and highlighted in the Courier. The awardee is selected through nominations from the Green Team and recognizes an employee who makes significant contributions to sustainable efforts in their work area, personal life, or both.
Green Driving Education: As part of its ongoing Green Driving Training initiative, Sustainability staff collaborated with Human Resources to design an online module available through the NEOGOV platform. To ensure all County employees receive Green Driving Training, this training will be included in the new employee onboarding curriculum and assigned to current employees who operate County vehicles. The module covers safe and environmentally responsible driving practices and includes a review of the County’s anti-idling policy, which aims to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.
Electric Vehicle Education: Staff have developed and distributed an informational rear-view mirror hanger for all new County fleet EVs as they become more common. This efficient resource provides drivers with convenient access to key information, including charging station locations, maintenance guidelines, and general vehicle details.
Workplace Sustainability Awareness: All new employees are introduced to the County’s sustainable services during New Employee Orientation, with emphasis on the priority Leon County has placed on sustainability. Orientation equips new County employees with knowledge about sustainable workplace best practices, including energy and resource conservation, recycling, and how to learn more about the Office of Sustainability.
Dish Loan Program: The County Dish Loan Program provides internal work areas the opportunity to utilize reusable dishes and cups to reduce waste and foster the successful implementation of the County’s Single-use Plastic Straws and Expanded Polystyrene Products Policy (No. 19-6). This year alone, this program has served nearly 200 people at County events, potentially saving 200 sets of plastic utensils, plates, and cups from entering the landfill. In 2025, a tabletop dishwasher was purchased for the Office of Resource Stewardship’s Gathering Room, where many “Lunch n Learn” format trainings are held to complement the dish loan program by removing barriers associated with hand washing dishes and utensils.
Green Team: Formed in 2017, the County Green Team serves as the County’s interdepartmental sustainability task force comprised of one to two representatives from each County work area. The team meets once every two months, discusses sustainability topics, and additional ways to make the County an even more sustainable organization. The Green Team provides valuable insight on new sustainability initiatives and encourages their adoption in each member’s respective work area. In 2025, these included feedback for planning the 2026 Sustainability Summit and curriculum refinement for a Sustainability Ambassadors Program, the Master Recyclers Class, and Green Driving Education.
Bus Pass Program: To promote utilization of more sustainable transportation for employee commutes, the County supplies free Star Metro bus passes monthly to employees upon request. This program is promoted at New Employee Orientation and is open to all Leon County employees. Currently, 30 employees participate in this program.
Sustainability Initiatives for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships
On January 10, 2026, Leon County hosted the World Athletics Cross Country Championships (WAXCC) at Apalachee Regional Park. This event welcomed professional and amateur athletes from over 60 countries to compete on the largest cross country stage every two years. As an emerging global leader in sustainable athletic events, World Athletics was encouraged by Leon County’s consistent and innovative approach to sustainability during the bidding process. The County has collaborated with World Athletics using guidelines from the Leon County Office of Sustainability and World Athletics’ Athletics for a Better World Standard (ABW). This marks the first time a World Athletics cross country event is utilizing the ABW. As part of the process, the County will provide feedback on the practicality and effectiveness of the ABW criteria and tools.
Events can generate significant waste and carbon emissions between travel, food and beverage services, and waste management. The County has led the initiative to incorporate sustainable features and encourage sustainable choices at the WAXCC, particularly in waste management. Spectators were provided access to a mobile water station with reusable cups to reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles. Volunteers received training about local waste guidelines and were stationed at waste collection areas to assist with proper disposal and minimize recycling contamination. Additionally, the County and World Athletics prioritized local procurement to support regional businesses and minimize emissions from long-distance transportation.
Two novel features added to the unique character of the event. On-site sneaker recycling with Florida-based company Sneaker Impact was available for athletes and spectators to bring old shoes. Sneaker Impact’s operation is particularly effective because it first selects sneakers that are still in good condition to be sold by small businesses in developing countries, and then only recycles shoes beyond repair for their materials. This practice is aligned with County sustainability philosophy that reuse and repair options should be pursued before recycling because they have more potential emissions savings. Another sustainable initiative at the WAXCC featured collaboration with Sustainable Tallahassee’s Rags2Bags program to produce 1,000 shoe deodorizing bags made from donated T-shirts and filled with biochar produced by ReCap at the Solid Waste Management Facility. By facilitating communication with and leveraging these local resources, the County has created an opportunity for local resources to be highlighted on a national and worldwide scale.
Sustainability Fellows [ISAP Goal 5, Action Item 2I]
The Office of Sustainability routinely hosts an FSU Sustainability Fellow. The Sustainability Fellows Program is an internship program that matches skilled FSU students with community partners to work on direct projects. In 2025, the Office of Sustainability hosted two Sustainability Fellows. The spring fellows project quantified the potential benefits that green roofs could bring to Leon County, including energy reduction, pollution removal, and ambient air temperature reduction. The findings of this project provide insight that could help guide innovative energy saving solutions for County operations in the future. The summer fellow created a landscape map and management plan using Florida friendly landscaping for the Leroy Collins Main Public library. The final product of this project yielded a detailed landscape plan using native plants and a biochar feature for the Library.
Phase I of the project was completed by a group of FSU students from the Environmental Service Program in November 2025. The Sustainability Fellows program is a successful collaboration providing real world experiences for students while advancing sustainability projects in the County.
Community Garden Program [ISAP Action Item 6C]
Grants to create or maintain a community garden continue to be awarded up to $1,000, consistent with the County’s Community Garden Policy No. 12-2. A total of 78 garden grants have been awarded. To ensure each garden is designed for overall success, a site visit from a Leon County Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent is required. The Agent reviews best practices such as proper sunlight, water, and plant placement. Thereafter, sustainability staff continues communication with existing garden organizers to receive updates about the status of each garden. In an effort to showcase the success of this program, gardens that have received funding from the County are featured as a part of the Sustainability Map located on the County’s Growing Green website (www.LeonCountyFL.gov/GrowingGreen). The Sustainability Map highlights a variety of sustainability resources and infrastructure in the County.
Since the last report, three grants have been awarded. Recipients have created new gardens at Nims Middle School, and Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend. One grant resulted in the expansion of existing community gardens at the Frenchtown Heritage Hub. These funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to qualified applicants.
Arbor Day
In January 2026, Leon County hosted Arbor Day at the St. Marks Headwaters Greenway, planting 225 native trees. The types of trees planted included Shumard Oak, Live Oak, Willow Oak, Crabapple, and Beautyberry. This event provides the opportunity to showcase the County’s tree planting efforts, engage multiple community organizations and members, and to educate volunteers on the importance of planting native trees to support a sustainable ecosystem.
C. Civic Engagement & Community Partnerships
The Office of Sustainability fully recognizes and values the importance of community partnerships and involvement in sustainability efforts throughout the County.
Community Incentives [ISAP Action Item 7D]
Adopt-A-Tree: Through the County’s Adopt-A-Tree Program, citizens can select three different varieties of native trees to “adopt” and have planted in their yard. Coordinated through Public Works, this program provides an opportunity for citizens to choose a tree that is best suited for their yard and landscape, which can result in higher success rates for planted trees and, in some cases, improved resiliency. Tree selections in 2026 are the PawPaw, Blackgum, and American Elm. Citizens will also receive helpful information on how to take care of their adopted tree. Since 2007, over 6,800 trees have been planted in nearly 250 neighborhoods through the Adopt-A-Tree program. With 700 trees provided to residents in 2025, staff is aiming to increase the capacity in coming years to accelerate the growth of this program.
Tire Amnesty: Since 2019, the County has hosted an annual Waste Tire Amnesty Event for citizens to dispose of waste tires. In 2025, Leon County was awarded a Waste Tire Amnesty Event grant and received a reimbursement for successfully processing and disposing of over 56 tons of tires during the event. This represents an increased 66% in tons collected from 2024. In continued partnership with FDEP, Tire Amnesty Days are available to all Leon County residents with a valid ID and offer free disposal of up to 25 passenger car tires per resident. Leon County broadcasts messages about the program to the community through social media platforms and news media announcements. The program typically runs from late February to the middle of May, with four locations for tire drop-off.
Buy-One-Get-One Free Native Plants: The Sustainability Office’s annual hosting of a BOGO deal on native plants at Native Nurseries returned for its 9th year. Community members are able to select from any of the native plants and get a second plant free. The initiative aims to promote sustainable landscaping and access to native plants. Due to the program’s continued success, Native Nurseries works with local native plant growers in advance of the event to ensure an adequate stock of plants for the sale. This year, the event drew 130 households. Following strategic promotion efforts, the 2025 sale engaged a diverse population drawn from across the community, with many participating for the first time.
Sustainable Communities Summit [ISAP Action Item 7F]
Since 2008, the County has hosted Sustainable Community Summits every two years, to engage and educate the community on sustainability topics. The Summit topic and format have varied over the years, covering subject areas such as climate action, sustainable food systems, outdoor recreation, and alternative transportation. Citizens engage on a wide variety of topics that correlate to the County’s focus areas in the ISAP. The Summits continue to draw hundreds of attendees as efforts are made to offer new sustainability-related activities and topics to ensure that the event remains engaging and informative.
In 2024, Leon County planned to host a Sustainability Summit centered around the theme of “Reconnection.” The event was designed to bring together stakeholders, organizations, and citizens to renew their commitment to collective action. However, due to the May 10th tornado outbreak, the Summit was postponed and scaled down in the form of multiple smaller educational sessions. The decentralized sessions were impactful for attendees but drew a smaller crowd than would be expected at a full-scale Summit.
Looking ahead, the Summit will return in spring of 2026 at the Eastside Branch Library as a single-day event, reverting to the format of past summits and aiming to foster broader community connections. The 2026 Summit theme will have a similar overarching goal to 2024 but feature a new theme, “Sustainable Threads: The Fabric of Our Community.” The theme celebrates the idea that each organization and individual represents a unique “thread” in the fabric of our community. Their true value emerges when these threads are woven together, reinforcing one another to support the community as a whole. The event will integrate new programs and insights gained over the past several years with elements from the 2024 Summit plan. The Eastside Branch Library and Pedrick Pond Park offer a versatile space where both indoor and outdoor activities will be available for attendees to enjoy. In addition to educational sessions covering topics such as the changing landscape at Apalachee Regional Park and the Solid Waste Management Facility, the Summit will offer an engaging opportunity for attendees to learn basic techniques to “mend and extend” the life of their clothing rather than discarding it when signs of wear appear.
Sustainability Ambassadors [ISAP Action Item 7G, Goal G17]
A new program, Sustainability Ambassadors, will be launched during the Sustainability Summit offering an in-depth exploration of sustainability in Leon County. Program curriculum will provide a well-rounded understanding of key sustainability topics aligned with the ISAP. Participants will engage with local and County resources that support and enrich their classroom learning. Upon completion of the program, participants will be equipped to lead sustainability efforts and inspire action within their communities.
Outreach Efforts [ISAP Action Items 1P, 4K, 7F and Goal 3J]
Engaging citizens in sustainability and helping drive sustainable action in the community are two important initiatives in the Office of Sustainability. This effort is accomplished by attending community meetings, hosting community education programs and posting on social media.
Insights and Input: Sustainability staff continue to host meetings to regularly engage with sustainability stakeholders. Every other month, “Insights & Input” meetings provide frequent opportunities for staff and stakeholders with an advanced knowledge of sustainability to discuss the County’s ongoing sustainability efforts, hear new ideas, talk through challenges, leverage existing resources, and brainstorm future opportunities. The feedback received from Insights & Input is valued and integrated into the County’s ongoing efforts. In 2024 and 2025, engagement with this group helped shape the Master Recycler Class and analysis of Action Item additions to the ISAP during its review. They will continue to provide invaluable feedback for the 2026 Sustainability Summit, where citizen input is crucial.
Community Engagement: Throughout 2025, County staff engaged over 1,000 citizens. Most opportunities came from educational presentations, and tabling at events. Staff engaged with citizens at Leon County Library events such as the Seed Libraries and CosmicCon: Solarpunk Utopia event. Following the success of the first two Master Recycler Classes, multiple iterations of “mini” Master Recycler Classes were conducted for organizations such as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and FSU Sustainable Campus.
Litter Reduction and Beautification Initiatives [ISAP Goal 18 and Action Items 7C, 7D]
The Office of Sustainability has partnered with several organizations over the past year to leverage the impact of beautification efforts. This has resulted in multiple successful events and community engagement initiatives.
Main Library Landscaping: In November 2025, students from the FSU Environmental Service Program club installed the first phase of a landscaping project at the LeRoy Collins Public Library. The landscape design was developed by a Fellow from the FSU Sustainable Campus Fellows Program. The design incorporates native plants and Florida Friendly Landscaping Principles from the UF/IFAS Extension Office to enhance the beauty of the area while supporting native wildlife and pollinators. The planting also provided an opportunity to pilot the use of biochar as a soil additive in County landscapes. After many years of compacting soil from tree roots and grass, the biochar will work to aerate and balance the soil.
Plogging Collaboration: Building on the successful collaboration between the County and Gulf Winds Track Club (GWTC) during the WAXCC, staff are engaging with GWTC to explore a potential “plogging” event, in which participants pick up litter while jogging. This event would help sustain momentum to integrate sustainability efforts within the local running community.
Campaign Signs Recycling Program: In 2024, the County coordinated Leon County’s first campaign signs recycling initiative in partnership with the League of Women Voters (LWV), Leon County Supervisor of Elections, and Marpan Recycling. Corrugated plastic, frequently used for campaign and yard signs, is not accepted in single-stream recycling in Leon County. However, the 2024 election cycle presented an opportunity to recycle these signs, as the temporary surge in corrugated plastic volume makes it more feasible to process and recycle compared to smaller, inconsistent amounts. After a successful first program, the County plans to recreate and streamline the effort for the 2026 midterm elections. The 2026 program will be refined using best practices identified through research and engagement with similar Florida programs.
Lake Litter Cleanup: The Sustainability Office has routinely hosted shoreline clean-ups, with past events occurring at Lakes Jackson, Iamonia, Henrietta, Talquin and Munson. In 2025, the Sustainability Office hosted a cleanup at Lake Henrietta with students from FSU’s Garnet and Gold Goes Green (G4) program, which typically collects recycling on home football and basketball gamedays. Sustainability and Parks and Recreation staff also helped to coordinate students from the Maji Project at FSU to hold regular cleanups at Lake Henrietta. In 2025, the club conducted four trash cleanups, with more anticipated in 2026.
Forest Cleanup: Since 2006, Leon County has supported the annual Apalachicola National Forest Clean Up event through the provision of dumpsters and disposal services. During the 2025 event, 116 volunteers collected 12,340 pounds of garbage. In the past two years, the tonnage of garbage has decreased, which is a sign that residents are using proper waste disposal methods, such as the Tire Amnesty Program which saw significantly higher tonnage collected in 2025 than 2024. Additionally, Leon County Solid Waste aided in the removal of tires that had been illegally dumped by waiving fees for volunteer groups. In October 2025, the Tallahassee Mountain Bike Association and Tally Ho Off Road Clubs organized a cleanup of tires illegally dumped in the Apalachicola National Forest, disposing of 2.7 tons of tires at the Solid Waste Facility. An additional 1.84 tons of tires were accepted from the Florida Forest Service in December 2025.
Conclusion
Since the establishment of its sustainability program in 2008, Leon County has developed and implemented programs and policies aimed at addressing sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. The County continues to evaluate and apply strategies to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from County operations. With the adoption of the County’s ISAP, staff have a defined framework to guide implementation and track progress, with approximately 88 percent of ISAP initiatives underway or completed to date. These efforts have resulted in measurable reductions in operational greenhouse gas emissions and support the County’s continued progress toward the goal of a 30 percent reduction by 2030.
In addition, the Sustainability team continues to monitor best practices from peer jurisdictions and evaluate potential future initiatives. Over the coming year, the Office of Sustainability will prioritize the expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, improvements to recycling education and contamination reduction efforts, and increased community engagement through the Sustainability Summit.
The item also provides the semiannual status report regarding curbside waste collection service. Since the commencement of the new contract on October 1, 2023, the combination of Leon County’s enhanced contractual standards and Waste Pro’s operational improvements has resulted in a successful implementation of curbside collection services. Key indicators, including reduced liquidated damages, lower customer complaints, and high route completion rates demonstrate that service performance has improved compared to the prior contract.
Options:
Accept the annual status report on the County Sustainability Program (Attachment #1).
Accept the Solid Waste biannual status report regarding curbside waste collection service provided by Waste Pro, Inc. (Attachment #2).
Board direction.
Recommendation:
Options #1 and #2
Attachments: