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Newspaper in EducationThe Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education (NIE) program is a cooperative effort between schools and the Times to promote the use of newspapers in print and electronic form as educational resources. Since

the mid-1970s, NIE has provided schools with class sets of the Times, plus our award-winning original curriculum, at no cost to teachers or schools. With ever-shrinking school budgets, the newspaper has become an invaluable tool to teachers. In the Tampa Bay area, the Times provides more than 5 million free newspapers and electronic licenses for teachers to use in their classrooms every school year.

The Times and our NIE curriculum are rich educational resources, offering teachers an up-to-the-minute, living text and source for countless projects in virtually every content area. Teachers, e-mail [email protected] to become an NIE teacher. For information about how you can donate to NIE, call 800-333-7505, ext. 8138 or visit tampabay.com/nie.

Learn more about NIE on our website: tampabay.com/nie. Keep in the know about the Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education program by following us on Twitter: twitter.com/TBTimesNIE.

Newspaper in Education StaffJodi Pushkin, manager, [email protected] Bedry, development specialist, [email protected]

CreditsCurriculum activities by Jodi Pushkin, NIE managerDesigned by Stacy Rector, Times staff

Content in this publication has been provided by the city of Largo recycling department.

© Tampa Bay Times 2012

This publication incorporates the following Sunshine State Standards: Science: SC.4.E.6.3; SC.3.N.1.1; SC.3.N.1.2; SC.3.N.1.3; SC.3.N.1.6; SC.4.N.1.2 ; SC.4.N.1.3; SC.4.N.1.6; SC.4.N.2.1; SC.5.N.1.1; SC.6.N.1.1; SC.7.N.1.1; SC.8.N.1.1; SC.8.N.4.2; SC.912.N.1.1; SC.912.N.1.7 Language Arts: LA.3.1.4.1-4; LA.3.1.5.1-2; LA.3.1.6.1-10; LA.3.1.7.2-5; LA.3.2.2.2-4; LA.3.3.1.1-2; LA.3.3.2.1-2; LA.3.3.3.1-4; LA.3.3.4.1-6; LA.3.4.2.2-3; LA.3.5.2.1-2; LA.3.6.1.1; LA.3.6.2.1-4; LA.4.1.4.1-3; LA.4.1.5.1-2; LA.4.1.6.1-10; LA.4.1.7.2-5; LA.4.2.2.2; LA.4.3.1.1; LA.4.3.2.1-3; LA.4.3.3.1-4; LA.4.3.4.1-6; LA.4.5.2.1-5; LA.4.6.1.1; LA.4.6.2.1-4; LA.5.1.4.1-3; LA.5.1.5.1-2; LA.5.1.6.1-10; LA.5.1.7.1-5; LA.5.2.2.1-5; LA.5.3.1.1-3; LA.5.3.2.1-3; LA.5.3.3.1-4; LA.5.3.4.1-5; LA.5.5.2.1-2; LA.5.6.1.1; LA.5.6.2.1-4; LA.6.1.5.1; LA.6.1.6.1-10; LA.6.1.7.1-8; LA.6.2.2.1-5; LA.6.3.1.1-3; LA.6.3.2.1-3; LA.6.3.3.1-4; LA.6.3.4.1-5; LA.6.5.2.1-2; LA.6.6.1.1-3; LA.6.6.2.1-4; LA.7.1.5.1; LA.7.1.6.1-10; LA.7.1.7.1-8; LA.7.2.2.1-5; LA.7.3.1.1-3; LA.7.3.2.1-3; LA.7.3.3.1-4; LA.7.3.4.1-5; LA.7.5.2.1-3; LA.7.6.2.1-4; LA.8.1.5.1; LA.8.1.6.1-10; LA.8.1.7.1-8; LA.8.2.2.1-4; LA.8.3.1.1-3; LA.8.3.2.1-3; LA.8.3.3.1-4; LA.8.3.4.1-5; LA.8.5.2.1-5; LA.8.6.1.1-2; LA.8.6.2.1-4; LA.910.1.5.1; LA.910.1.6.1-10; LA.910.1.7.1-8; LA.910.2.2.1-3; LA.910.3.1.1-2; LA.910.3.2.1-3; LA.910.3.3.1-4; LA.910.3.4.1-5; LA.910.5.2.1-3; LA.910.6.1.1; LA.910.6.2.1-4; LA.1112.1.5.1; LA.1112.1.6.1-9; LA.1112.1.7.1-4; LA.1112.2.2.1-3; LA.1112.3.1.1-3; LA.1112.3.2.1-2; LA.1112.3.3.1-4; LA.1112.3.4.1-5; LA.1112.5.2.1-2; LA.1112.5.2.4; LA.1112.6.1.1-2 ; LA.1112.6.2.1-4

Saving trees with 100 percent paper-free communicationLargo saves a lot of paper with its website, Largo.com. Keep up with the city of Largo's recycling program, Recreation, Parks and Arts, Community Development Departments and more on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, LinkedIn and Enews.

Americans use an average of 2 1/2 million plastic bottles

every hour! That's more than 200,000 plastic bottles

every five minutes!

‘Not-so-fun’ fact:

If every American household recycled just one out of every 10 plastic bottles, 200

million pounds of plastic would be saved from landfills each year. Imagine how many bottles we could save if we reduced, reused and recycled?

We can

help!

tampabay.com/nie 3LarGoingGreen.com

Water Conservation

Chemical & Electronics Recycling

Reclaimed Water

Green Building

Tree City USA

Protecting Waterways Recycling Education

Alternative Transportation

Certified Florida Green Local Government The city of Largo has earned Silver-level Green Local Government certification. This certification recognizes the importance of sustainable practices within the city of Largo.

The Florida Green Building Coalition's Green Local Government Designation recognizes Green Cities and Green Counties for outstanding environmental stewardship in areas of energy, water, air, land and waste. It is expected that certified green city and county governments will function more efficiently with standards in place to promote environmental education, to provide sustainable resources for residents and businesses, and to operate more effectively.

Learning with the TimesBe creative

Using the e-Edition of the Tampa Bay Times, look at photographs, comics and advertisements for items that can be and cannot be recycled. Make a list for each. Group items by type of waste (i.e., plastic, glass, wood, metal, etc.). For your list of items that cannot be recycled, identify which are flammable, corrosive, reactive or toxic. Group these items by the disposal method you would use. Now that you have your lists, it is time to be creative: Write and illustrate a short story for each type of waste from the viewpoint of an item. If possible, add some impact numbers to your story. Share your stories with classmates, friends and family.

The city of Largo is LEEDing the way in green buildingThe city of Largo is home to one of a select group of buildings in the state and across the country that are certified as LEED Platinum.

The LEED-Platinum-certified Largo Community Center complex demonstrates Largo's commitment to sustainable building design. Through the generosity of the Goodman Group, the owner of the Palms of Largo facility, the Penny for Pinellas fund and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Largo was able to design and build this center to the highest sustainable requirements.

Features: • Solar photovoltaic power systems• Low-flow water fixtures• Low-energy lighting fixtures• Provisions for recycling collection • Access to alternative modes

of transportation

Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design, or

LEED, is a building standard

set out by the U.S. Green

Building Council (USGBC)

and is the widely accepted

system to designating if new

construction, renovations or

current maintenance practices

are both green and sustainable.

LEED Platinum certification is

the highest designation given

by the USGBC.

Largo's LEED-Platinum-certified Community Center Complex is a shining example of Largo's commitment to green practices and sustainability.

Largo Community Center Recycles. Look for recycling containers on your next visit!

Green Fleet

Energy Efficiency

Low emission vehicles like Largo’s Recycles hybrid car get priority parking at Largo Community Center.


Shop responsiblyAmericans use 60,000 plastic bags every five seconds! Less than one

percent of plastic bags are recycled. Recycle your

plastic bags at a participating

grocery store. Do not recycle

them in your curbside bin.

Try bringing your own bag. When you are asked, “Paper or

plastic?” you can reply,

“I brought my own!”

Buy bulk Purchase products with

minimal packaging. Choose bulk over individually wrapped items. Encourage others to do the same.

Preserve paperThink before you print … 4.5 million tons of office paper is thrown away each year in the U.S. Use less and recycle the rest!

Consider compostingEvery year, Americans throw out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage per person that can be composted. About 25 percent of waste in Florida is organic, most of which is compostable. Learn more about composting through the Pinellas County Extension office. Call 727-582-2100 or log on to PinellasCountyExtension.org.

Wasting waterWhen brushing your teeth, taking a shower, washing your hands or doing the dishes, you use four gallons of water per minute. That adds up! You use approximately 60 gallons in a 15-minute shower. Conserve water when possible.

Avoid single-use purchasesDisposable cups, silverware, dinnerware and straws end up in landfills. Use real silverware and reusable cups, straws and plates. Leave a set of silverware at your desk for lunches at the office.

Try a waste-free lunchOn average, a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school.

Pack an eco-lunch for the kids using reusable containers, thermos and silverware and avoid excess packaging. Educate your kids about Earth-friendly eats.

REDUCE

REDUCE

Tip:Pack real silverware with your lunch, not disposable.

The average person throws away four pounds of trash every day! Add up how much trash is used in your house in one week (seven days). Don't forget to include four pounds per family member per day and multiply by seven.

Imagine if there were no garbage service and you had to find something else to do with your trash? Write down creative ways to avoid throwing away so much garbage. Share your ideas with the class.


Learning with the Times

Design an ad

The city of Largo has some great

green events. How would you

promote these events? Using ads

in the Tampa Bay Times as models,

create an ad to promote a LarGoing

Green event. Look at the ads in the

Times. Think about the dynamics of

the ads. Think about ways to draw

people’s attention to your ad and

message. Next, design an ad for the

print newspaper and tampabay.com.

How is the ad on the print edition

going to be different than the Web

version of the ad? Write a fully

developed paragraph showing the

differences in the ads and what your

main point of the ads is.

Prescription bottles• Remove the label and wash carefully.• Use for safe storage of thumbtacks.• Fill with household odds and ends, nuts, bolts, etc.

• Wash and use for storage of salt, sugar, pepper, etc. for picnics, camping or at the office.

Children’s plastic pool • Flip over and use for covering

small plants from frost during the winter.

• Poke holes in the bottom, fill with potting soil and plant a garden in it.

• Use as a sandbox.

Books/DVDs/CDs/VHS/magazines

• The Largo Public Library will accept used multimedia items for reuse, resale or recycling.

• Check with schools and charitable organizations to see if they accept these donations.

Shower curtain• Use as a tarp for grills, wood, etc.• Cover your table with the curtain

while the kids are painting or creating messy crafts to make for easy clean up. Spice containers

• Buy spices in bulk and store them in previously used containers.

• Fill with sugar and use for sprinkling sugar on cereal.

This takes up less room than a sugar bowl.

Plastic food containers (cottage cheese, butter, yogurt containers)

• Use as an inexpensive alternative for keeping leftovers fresh.

• Use butter bowls as flower pots. Punch holes in the bottom if necessary and put the lid underneath to catch excess water.

• Poke holes in a butter bowl and use it as a colander.

• Use containers for storage of small parts and toys.

• Use butter bowls as cereal bowls.

REDU

CE

REUSE

Trash to treasureThink outside of the can for creative uses for trash and non-recyclables.


Disposing of cooking oil and grease down the drain coats wastewater pipes. (Eeewww!) Grease is sticky and eventually causes complete blockage or potential sewer spills. Wastewater may back up into your home or spill into the streets. Besides being unpleasant, it is dangerous and may contain disease-causing organisms.

You can help prevent costly plumbing bills, as well as environmental and health threats, by recycling used cooking oil at

the Cooking Oil Collection Site. Cooking oil is recycled into bio-fuel and used by a local grease-hauling company to power its fleet.

The City of Largo Wastewater Reclamation Facility is the ultimate recycling center, producing clean water and fertilizer from human waste. At the facility, the wastewater is treated through five major steps of physical, biological and chemical processes.

Results:Clean water is available to residents and businesses throughout Largo via a reclaimed water distribution system used for irrigation and cooling water towers.

Biosolids are sold and distributed for use in agriculture in a safe and environmentally beneficial manner.

Largo sells approximately 4 million pounds of dried biosolid pellets per year, recycling these organic waste solids that are contributed daily by local residents and businesses.

Recycled water, also called reclaimed water, is highly treated and disinfected wastewater, or water discarded

from homes and businesses, every day. Approximately 50 percent of the 4.5 billion gallons of wastewater treated by the City of Largo each year is recycled and used mostly for irrigation.

By using recycled water for yard irrigation and other allowed purposes, customers can:• conserve the Florida Aquifer, our

primary source of drinking water. • save money, since recycled water is

less costly than drinking water.• save on the expense of operating and

maintaining a well.• contribute to the health of Tampa Bay.

Recycled water also can be used for other non-drinking purposes, such as cooling towers, which is encouraged by water regulatory agencies.

For more water-saving tips, go to LarGoingGreen.com.

Go green on grease – Recycle cooking oilHelp stamp out sewer-related blockages by collecting and recycling used cooking oil and grease!

What is considered grease?• Beef and pork grease • Lard• Shortening • Butter/margarine• Cooking oils (canola, olive, peanut, vegetable)

Recycle your grease anytime at the City of Largo Recycling Center, 1551 Starkey Road, between Ulmerton Road and East Bay Drive.

We can

help!

Recycling: Beyond the blue bins

Recycled water Want to begin

irrigating with recycled water? If it is already available to your

area, contact city of Largo's Environmental Control Division at 727-518-3076 to get started saving money and water today. It's the green way to go!

We can

help!


Learning with the TimesThink globally, act locally

Use current and archived issues of the Tampa Bay Times to find articles, photos or cartoons about recycling and the environment in your local or regional community. Based on your news research, write an analysis essay that describes how the issue specifically impacts your community. Identify individuals or groups in your area that are helping to improve the community by protecting the environment. You can include related headlines, articles and photos in your paper. You may wish to complete further research using additional resources. Write a blog post about what you have learned. What are the most important needs in your community? What volunteer opportunities are available? How can people help keep Largo and Pinellas County beautiful?

No plastic bags

Mixed paper (anything that tears, including newspapers, cereal boxes, shoe boxes, colored paper, phone books, office paper)

Plastic bottles (anything with a neck)

Flattened cardboard

Aluminum cans

Steel food cans (available only at drop-off locations)

Glass bottles, all colors (available only at drop-off locations)

Largo recycles:

Free Curbside recycling for Largo garbage customers: LargoRecycles.com • 727-587-6760

24-hour recycling locationsThe city of Largo operates two 24-hour

recycling drop-off centers.

Starkey Road Recycling Center, 1551 Starkey Road, between East Bay

Drive and Ulmerton Road

Tri-City Plaza Recycling Center, U.S. Highway 19 North and East Bay

Drive, behind the Office Depot


How recycling works?

Once sorted, each product is shredded into pulp or pellets and sent to a processing plant

Plastic bags that are mixed with recycling create obstructions in the recycling equipment that slow down the recycling process.

Plastic bags can be recycled at most local grocery stores. Please recycle your plastic bags at participating locations.

We can

help!

Many of our recycled plastic bottles are recycled into things like carpet, plastic wood, clothes, furniture, playground equipment and more

Get your recyclables ready for sorting

Tip: Put your paper products in a paper bag that also can be recycled

You complete the cycle by purchasing recycled products at local stores

Processing plant turns the recycled material into usable products



How recycling works?

Recycling items are further sorted and bailed at a separate facilityOnce sorted, each

product is shredded into pulp or pellets and sent to a processing plant

Learning with the TimesConserving energy

Look in the Tampa Bay Times for pictures of home appliances that use energy. For each appliance, answer the following questions. Is this a necessity or a luxury? What are the advantages and disadvantages to using it? What’s the alternative to this appliance? Do a little research to determine the energy efficiency of each. Rate the appliances from most efficient to least efficient. Using the e-Edition archives, find newspaper articles about energy issues such as energy shortages, nonrenewable energy sources, energy costs, energy dependence and health problems associated with pollution or other effects of energy use. List ways you can save energy and create an energy contract to make a difference. Share your energy conservation ideas with your family and classmates.

Place your recycling by the curb or drop off your recyclables at one of Largo's 24-hour Recycling Centers

Tip: Curbside recycling service begins at 7 a.m. on your recycling day

Processing plant turns the recycled material into usable products



Recycled Innovations ContestWhat can you make out of your trash? The city of Largo's Recycled Innovations Contest is back for the fourth year! Accepted entries will be functional items made of materials that can be diverted from the waste stream.

Sept. 1-Oct. 31Enter the contest.

Nov. 2-12Vote for the winners at facebook.com/LargoRecycles.

Largo's Open-air Market Saturdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sept. 22- May 25 Largo Community Center, 400 Alternate Keene Road

Browse a wide variety of vendors selling fresh and local produce, artisan foods, unique arts and crafts, jewelry, health and beauty items and much more.

Owl-o-weenThursday, Oct. 25 6:30-8 p.m.

McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St. N

Celebrate Halloween among our nocturnal friends as we trick or treat along the nature trail. Learn about creepy critters, roast s'mores around a campfire and much more! Space is limited, so register early. $5/person, children 2 and under free.

America Recycles Day, Shred-fest Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Recycling Center, 1551 Starkey Road

Residents can bring documents that they would like shredded for this one-day event in celebration of America Recycles Day. (Limit 5 boxes per vehicle.) Sponsored by ProShred. LargoRecycles.com.

Family Picnic in the ParkSaturday, March 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St. N

Bring your favorite picnic lunch and blanket and spend the afternoon at McGough Nature Park relaxing, listening to music and playing Frisbee. Kids will get to meet the Easter Bunny.

Join in the Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m., $3 per child, wristband required.

Sodas, water and snacks will be sold to support the park.

Play Unplugged!Saturday, April 13, 2-7 p.m. Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Dr.

Hands-on games, discovery stations, tree climbing, playing in the sand, constructing creations from recycled materials and more to celebrate a day of creative play for kids and kids at heart. LargoEvents.com.

Spring EcofestSaturday, April 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. McGough Nature Park, 11901 146th St. N

Come celebrate Earth Day with kids' activities, music, live wildlife exhibits, information on recycling, guest speakers, a free tree give-a-way in honor of Arbor Day and much more. Food, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

Contact McGough Nature Park Activities at 727-518-3047 or LargoNature.com.

Learning with the TimesPlanning for the futureWe must begin recycling today if we are to reduce the rate at which our landfills are filling up. Working

together with other students, come up with a plan to get your school and family to recycle. Read the editorials and opinion articles in the Tampa Bay Times. Think about the dynamics of these persuasive articles. Think about ways to draw people’s attention to a message. Now it is your turn to be persuasive. Write an editorial or opinion article focused on the importance of recycling in your community. Share your article with your classmates.


Yard waste recyclingLargo recycles more than just bottles, cans, paper and

cardboard at the curb! We collect yard trimmings, grass clippings, branches and brush for recycling into mulch or fuel. Be sure these items are placed at the curb on your recycling day, free from trash. Organic material makes up nearly a quarter of our trash. With your help, we can keep organic material out of the landfill. Save the space!

Holiday recyclingChristmas tree and cardboard box curbside recycling

If your holiday includes a real tree with plenty of presents underneath it, the

city of Largo offers free Christmas tree and cardboard box recycling collection from December 26 through January 6. This service is available only to current city of Largo garbage collection customers.

Trees should be placed by the curb on your recycling day without:• Plastic bags or wrap• Ornaments, tinsel, lights

and tree standsCardboard boxes should be placed underneath the city of Largo's curbside recycling bin:• Flattened• No packaging inside

(foam, plastic wrap or paper)

• Cardboard boxes are always accepted on your recycle day

Why should we recycle electronics and chemicals? Electronics, TVs, computers and anything with a circuit board contain hazardous materials such as lead. Chemicals such as paint, cleaners, batteries, fluorescent lights and pesticides can mix with other chemicals in a garbage truck and produce toxic fumes, catch fire or explode.

Electronics and chemical recycling

1. Drop off electronics or chemicals at the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC3)What is the HEC3?

The HEC3 is the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center at 2855 109th Ave. N in St. Petersburg (727-464-7500). The hours are Mon. to Fri. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is a permanent facility for Pinellas County residents to bring electronics or chemicals.

2. Mobile collections In cooperation with Pinellas County Utilities, the city of Largo hosts two Household Electronics and Chemical Mobile collection events. Pinellas County residents can collect hazardous waste items from their home, office or garage and properly dispose of them at this one-day collection event. See LargoRecycles.com for event dates.

Fall Collection City of Largo's Recycling Center 1551 Starkey Road

Spring Collection Largo Home Depot 10689 Ulmerton Road

We can

help!

Two ways to recycle or properly dispose of these materials:


Friends of the Park Care for animals; greet people at parks; help with park maintenance, events, presentations and more. Your assistance can make the difference for Largo's four-legged and two-legged visitors.

Join anytime. Call 727-518-3047 for information.

Become a Green Team volunteer!Green Team volunteers:• Are ambassadors for recycling in their neighborhood• Participate in educational recycling events• Recruit business partners to recycle • Receive a Green Team shirt

This recycling program is a service available to all city of Largo solid waste business and multifamily

resident facilities.

What can we recycle? • Mixed paper/newspaper• Plastic bottles• Aluminum cans• Steel food cans• Cardboard (monthly fee)

How does it work? Each recyclable item will be collected separately in a 90-gallon container on wheels.

This container can be placed near the facility's current dumpster or in an alternate location as determined by the business manager and agreed upon by a representative from the city of Largo.

We provide once-a-week collection for recycling containers at no additional cost to the customer.

Getting Started For more information on the city of Largo's recycling program for businesses/multifamily facilities, call 727-586-7424 or visit LargoRecycles.com.

Volunteer opportunities (ages 16 and up)

Free business and multi-family recycling programWeekly recycling service at businesses or condos/apartments/mobile home parks

Learning with the TimesTake the science challenge

Find examples of six items advertised in the Tampa Bay Times that are packaged in a way that is not harmful to the environment. For each item, explain whether you think the packaging is more or less expensive than if the item were packaged in a manner that ignored the environment. Next, find one item advertised in the Times that is packaged in a wasteful way. Design a better product pack-age for that item. Describe your idea and illustrate it. Include what objections there may be to your idea, if any, and how you would respond to those objections.


Largo schools can raise money by recy-cling mixed paper and aluminum soda cans. SP Recycling Corporation and Best Metal Recycling have teamed with the Pinellas County School Board and the city of Largo to provide a full-service recycling program for Largo schools.

To set up a recycling program at your school, e-mail [email protected] or call 727-586-7424.

Schools and community organizations request a recycling presentation Get students, club members and homeowners associations excited about recycling by scheduling your free recycling presentation today. Simply fill out the online recycling presentation request form at LargoRecycles.com or call 727-586-7424.

Nature in the Classroom initiative programs 727-518-3047

Traveling naturalists from the Friends of Largo Nature Parks offer these programs either in the classroom or outside on the school campus. However, most also can be enjoyed at McGough Nature Park, if you prefer a field trip.

Programs are available for all grades in the following subject areas: Florida ecosystems, environmental investigation, pollution, wastewater runoff, recycling, geology, mineralogy and wildlife.

All naturalists are Level II background checked and trained in Florida wildlife and ecology.

While our programs are free to schools, donations are always welcome.

Reducing and reusing since 1914

In 1914, residents began leaving donated books, magazines and wood for furnishings beneath a large camphor tree located in the heart of downtown Largo.

Today, the Largo Public Library continues this tradition by recycling and reusing donated items and materials that are retired from the collection. A large portion of library materials are given to the Friends of the Largo Library to be sold in semiannual book sales and in the Kathryn E. Porter Bookstore at the entrance of the building.

One hundred thousand books, magazines and A/V materials pass through the bookstore annually, finding a new home with happy customers. Another partner in the library's recycling initiative is Better World Books, an organization that accepts books to share across the world.

In addition to book recycling, the library participates in environmental conservation in many ways:

• Carpet tiles throughout the library are based in recycled plastic materials.

• Wood laminate trim within the library is made from recycled coffee bean bags.

• Educational conservation programs are offered to children, teens and adults.

• Damaged electronics, A/V materials and used ink cartridges are recycled separately.

• Paperless audio and digital books and music are available at largopubliclibrary.org.

Largo Public Library recycles. Look for recycling containers on your next visit.

SustainabilityeducationLargo schools recycle

Get the “Scoop on Poop” – Find out what happens after you flush!

Have your school or organization take a tour of the city of Largo's Environmental Services Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the ultimate recycling machine. More information can be found at largo.com/mysewer or 727-507-4460.

TakeA

Tour!


Streets & stormwater

Fertilizers & stormwaterStormwater is rain water that flows into street sewers, then drains directly into lakes, creeks and the bay without being treated. These street sewers are designed to prevent flooding. When it rains, stormwater can draw litter, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants into a storm sewer. Protect the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.Excess fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns and gardens wash off and pollute streams. In addition, yard clippings and leaves can wash into storm drains and contribute nutrients and organic matter to streams.

What to know about Pinellas County's fertilizer ban (est. 2010):Fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus CANNOT be applied:• During the rainy season (June 1 through September 30)

• Within 10 feet of a body of water

• If the National Weather Service forecasts heavy rains to occur within 24 hours in Pinellas County

• To impervious surfaces, such as roads, driveways and sidewalks, and overcast must be swept up immediately

Landscape maintenance MUST INCLUDE:• Keeping grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste out of the streets, driveways,

sidewalks, stormdrains and surface waters

• Commercial landscape staff and fertilizer applicators must be trained in county-approved Best Management Practices for mowing, trimming, fertilizer application and landscape debris management

KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN:

Pick up pet poo! Pet waste is a major source of bacteria and excess nutrients in local waters. Pet waste washes into swimming areas and creates health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.

Don't be a litter bug! Pick up litter and save our aquatic friends. Plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles and cigarette butts wash into waterbodies and can choke, suffocate or disable aquatic such as ducks, fish, turtles and birds.

Keep chemicals away from storm sewers! Insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, pool chemicals/backwash, used motor oil and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating diseased fish or ingesting polluted water.

We can

help!

• Don't over-water your lawn. Consider using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler.

• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. Use organic mulch or safer pest control methods whenever possible.

• Compost or mulch yard waste. Don't leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or streams.

• Cover piles of dirt or mulch being used in landscaping projects.

We can

help!

More than 150 of Largo's sewers have this device to help catch some of the litter and lawn trimmings that would have drained into Largo's waterways. While these baskets help mitigate some of the debris, we still need your help!

© Artwork das Manufacturing Inc.


George C. McGough Nature Park at the Largo Narrows just before the Indian Rocks bridge 11901 146th St. N 727-518-3047 • LargoNature.com

Also known as "the turtle park" for its abundant aquatic turtle population, McGough Nature Park is located along the intracoastal waterway. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and stroll along the shady oak hammock or through the mangroves. Make sure you visit the nature center, which houses live animal exhibits and hands-on activities for children. The park offers several environmental education programs.

Find out about upcoming events, programs, birthday parties, camps and more at LargoNature.com or 727-518-3047.

John R. Bonner Park 14444 143rd St. N 727-518-3047

This park is Largo's best-kept secret! It is located on the intracoastal waterway. Because of the park’s diverse migratory bird population, the trail that it’s located on has been named the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Largo Central Park Nature Preserve 150 Highland Ave. SE 727-586-7415

Largo's newest nature park is surrounded by fresh water, so it is home to an abundance of wildlife.

Largo earns designation as Sterling Tree City

The Arbor Day Foundation recognizes the city of Largo as a Sterling Tree City. This award is given to communities that go beyond the four standards of Tree City USA, have accumulated points from a list of projects that

demonstrate improvement and growth of local tree care, and have participated in the Tree City USA Growth Award Program for 10 years.

Largo earned this prestigious award by implementing a Street Tree Masterplan, by completing a comprehensive street tree inventory, by participating for five successive years in the Mayor's Street Tree Beautification Program and by rolling out programs such as CommuniTrees, which provides free street trees to city neighborhoods.

The Arbor Day Foundation awards approximately 20 Sterling Tree City awards each year nationwide. Largo is the first city in Pinellas County to receive this award, and 13th in the state of Florida. For more information about the Largo Parks Division, call 727-586-7415 or visit LargoParks.com.

Back to the Earth in Largo

Learning with the TimesRe-purposing trash

Re-purposing trash means taking something that would have been thrown away and finding a

new use or purpose for it. Largo's Recycled Innovations Contest encourages people to find a new

use for items destined for the trash can. Look in the Tampa Bay Times for household items that

cannot be recycled. How can you re-purpose them? Plan out your Recycled Innovation and enter

Largo's online contest at LargoRecycles.com.Largo parks recycle – look for recycling containers on your next visit to our nature and recreational parks.

Meet Matilda and Franklin, McGough's education owls.

Take nothing but photos. Leave nothing but footprints.

What type of plastic products are recyclable in Largo?a. Soda bottlesb. Milk jugsc. Detergent bottlesd. All of the above

What type of paper product is NOT recyclable in Largo?a. Cereal boxesb. Office paperc. Greasy pizza boxesd. Shredded paper

What material is accepted in residential curbside recycling?a. Steel food cansb. Glassc. Mixed paperd. Plastic bags

How many 24-hour Recycling Centers are available in Largo?a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 0

Don’t Forget Me!LargoRecycles.com

Test your recyc-I.Q.

Find the answers at LargoRecycles.com. Ace the quiz and receive a free reusable shopping bag courtesy of the City of Largo Solid Waste Division.

Don’t Forget Me!www.LargoRecycles.com

largoinggreennieonline.com/.../supplements/2012largorecycling.pdf · largo saves a lot of paper...

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