2026 NIE Pasco Recycling by Times Total Media

Calendar of events 2026-2027

April 2026

Earth Day at Crews Lake

Wilderness Park

April 25, 2026

June 2026

World Oceans Day

June 8, 2026

September 2026

Keep Pasco Beautiful Cleanup

Sept. 19, 2026

January 2027

Florida Arbor Day

Jan. 15, 2027

March 2027

Great American Cleanup

March 6, 2027

All dates subject to change. Please email info@KeepPascoBeautiful.org for updates.

What can I recycle curbside in Pasco County?

• Recyclables should be clean, dry and rinsed free of food and liquid residue.

What NOT to recycle curbside in Pasco County:

A good way to build reading and learning skills is to create a Know, Wonder and Learn (KWL) chart before you begin learning new things. While you are reading or learning new things, ask yourself questions. First, ask what

you already Know about the subject. Then, ask what your wonder or want to know about the subject. Then after you read, you can you ask what you have Learned about the subject. Practice this KWL technique for this

Newspaper in Education publication. Before reading, write down what you know and what you wonder about this topic. Share this information with your classmates. Your teacher can create a KWL chart for the whole

class, after you read each article, jot down what you have learned. What was the most surprising thing you learned? How will you change your behaviors based on the information you have read. Discuss this with your class.

As an extension activity, look in the Tampa Bay Times to find an article that relates to this topic. Share the main points of the article with your class,

Florida Standards: ELA.412.EE.6.1;

Curbside trash and recycling collection in Pasco County

In Pasco County, curbside trash and recycling collection services are provided by licensed independent haulers. Residents must sign up with one of these companies to receive service.

Curbside recycling service is included with curbside trash service in Pasco County, though the purchase of a recycling cart may be required by some haulers. Recycling service is once-a-week. If you already have curbside trash service and would like to start recycling, call your trash hauler for more information.

Pasco County Recycling Drop-Off Locations

Don’t have curbside recycling service? Pasco County residents can drop off recycling at these drop-off sites.

Avoid “wishcycling”

When in doubt, leave it out

Placing items in your curbside recycling that you hope are recyclable – but actually aren’t – causes more harm than good.

Non-recyclable items can contaminate clean recyclables, damage the sorting equipment and potentially injure staff.

If you are not sure if an item is recyclable, don’t place it in your recycling.

When in doubt, leave it out!

Recycling items accepted at all locations:

• Aluminum cans and metal food cans (clean and dry)

• Plastic bottles, jars and small containers coded 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (no caps or squirt bottle nozzles)

• Mixed paper and newspaper (clean and dry)

• Corrugated cardboard and thin cardboard (no dirty or greasy cardboard)

Holiday Area Recycling

Anclote Gulf Park

2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday

Tues. - Sat., 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., (recycling only)

Land O’Lakes Area Recycling

Senior Services Center

6801 Wisteria Loop, Land O’Lakes

Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m-3:30 p.m. • (recycling only)

Self-hauling

Pasco County residents can bring Additional Items to the West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility or the East Pasco Transfer Station. Proof of Pasco County residency is required.

West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility

14606 Hays Road, Spring Hill

Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 727-861-3053 (also accepts construction debris)

East Pasco Transfer Station

9626 Handcart Road, Dade City

Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • 352-521-0500 (also accepts used cooking oils and scrap metal)

Additional Items:

• Up to 8 bags of trash per day (no charge)

• Furniture ($104.03 per ton or $5.20 for every 100 pounds)

• Construction Debris (West Pasco location only) ($104.03 per ton or $5.20 for every 100 pounds)

• Yard waste ($104.03 per ton or $5.20 for every 100 pounds)

• Mixed loads ($104.03 per ton or $5.20 for every 100 pounds)

• Car/pickup tires ($2 per tire) • Truck/semi tires ($10 per tire)

• All other tires and loads over 10 tires (West Pasco location only) ($200 per ton)

• Refrigerators ($3 each) • Air conditioners ($3 each)

• Metal (no charge unless in a mixed load)

JOIN US FOR:

• Live Remote with HITS106 9 a.m. – noon

• Mercury bounty: Bring a mercury-containing device for a $5 gift card (excluding light bulbs).

• Electronics recycling: Two TVs free, additional TVs $5/each. All household electronics will be accepted.

• Document shredding: 9 a.m. to noon. Limit 3 boxes/ bags per person.

• Fox Tales Florida Rescue & Sanctuary

Going beyond the text: Student activity

Globally, Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22. Earthday.org notes that this is day “unites a global community of more than 1 billion people taking action for our planet.” From the first Earth Day celebration 56 years ago to today, much has changed in the world.

• Household Hazardous Waste collection: Lightbulbs, batteries, oil, gas and paint. Call 727-847-8123 for more information.

• Florida Skunk Rescue

• Ladybug release

• DunnDee Farms

• Children’s crafts and educational displays

• Upcycle vendors

• Florida native plant sale

• And much more!

The importance of protecting the health of our planet and its inhabitants has not waned. In many ways, protecting our environment is even more critical today. Read through the Tampa Bay Times to find articles focusing on the environment. You can look

at the daily newspaper over a brief period of time, or you can search for past article in the archives. Make a list of the environmental issues you find. Think about ways humans can turn a negative issue into a positive one. Next, you need to convince others to make a positive

Saturday, April 25, 2026 • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Crews Lake Wilderness Park

16739 Crews Lake Drive, Spring Hill

“COMPOST HAPPENS” WORKSHOP WITH COMPOST BIN ($35)

• 10-11 a.m.

This workshop will explore the benefits and basic “how-tos” for composting in the home landscape. Paying participants will receive one (1) GEOBIN brand compost bin (246 gallon capacity). Limit one compost bin per household, and only one compost bin per paying ticket. Open to Pasco residents only. Seating is limited. Preregistration and pre-payment are required to receive a bin.

Interested in receiving composting information only (no bin)? Join us at 10 a.m. at Pavilion #1 in Crews Lake Park. No registration or payment required.

impact on Earth Day and every day. You can do this by writing a letter to the editor of the Tampa Bay Times about a local environmental issue.

A letter to the editor is a way for people to share their opinions on current events and issues with the

RAINWATER HARVESTING WORKSHOP WITH RAIN BARREL

( $65)

• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

This workshop will explain the purpose, benefits and function of rain barrels for rainwater collection. Participants will learn how to build, install and use their rain barrel. Limit one rain barrel per household. Open to Pasco County residents only. Seating is limited. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required to receive a barrel.

Interested in receiving rain barrel information only (no barrel)? Join us at 11 a.m. at Pavilion #1 in Crews Lake Park. No registration or pre-payment required.

editor and the readership of the paper. Use plain language that most people will understand and keep the letter brief. A letter to the editor should be 300 words or less. You can submit your letter to the Tampa Bay Times and/or your school newspaper.

Florida Standards: ELA.412. EE.1.1; ELA.412.EE.4.1; ELA.412.EE.5.1; ELA.412. EE.6.1; ELA.412.F.2.1; ELA.412.C.1.3; ELA.412.C.1.4; ELA.412.C.1.5; ELA.412.C.2.1; ELA.412.C.3.1; ELA.412.C.4.1; ELA.412.C.5.1; ELA.412.C.1.5; ELA.412.R.2.2; ELA.412.R.2.3; ELA.412.V.1.1

This is a Reworld event in partnership with Pasco County Recycling and Keep Pasco Beautiful.

Pasco County has seven independent, licensed trash haulers who pick up both trash and recycling. Call your trash hauler to find out your recycling pickup schedule.

Your recycling is brought by your trash hauler to a County facility in Spring Hill. This facility acts as a halfway point between Pasco County residents and a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF, pronounced “murf”).

The sorted recycled materials are then shipped locally and internationally to be remanufactured into new products. What happens to your recycling? 5 6 7 4 3 1 2

Your recycling is then sent to a MRF to be sorted and prepared for remanufacturing.

Made with recycled content

The final and most important part of the recycling process is YOU! For recycling to work, products that use recycled materials need to find homes on our shelves, not only in our recycling bin.

After your recycling arrives at the MRF, the recycling load is looked over by employees, who remove any large pieces of contamination.

Next, a series of complex machines sorts the recycling into paper and cardboard, plastics, magnetic items such as steel food cans and aluminum.

Household Hazardous Waste

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) includes everyday products with ingredients that are corrosive, toxic, flammable, or reactive. These items, such as paints, cleaners, aerosols, oils, lithium batteries, and pesticides, require careful handling and disposal to avoid harm to people and the environment.

Never pour HHW down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or toss it in the trash. Even if it seems harmless, improper disposal can contaminate water, soil, and air—and harm people and wildlife.

Guide to safely packaging and transporting your HHW:

• Do not throw items in a trash bag.

• Keep chemicals capped, and in their original containers with original labels.

• Pack waste containers carefully in a box or plastic bin to prevent spillage during transport.

• Keep containers upright.

• Be cautious with containers which are brittle or have cracked.

• If a chemical spills, use an absorbent to clean it up.

• Do not allow multiple chemicals to mix together.

• Place containers in the trunk or away from passengers.

• Do not comingle your HHW with your household trash.

• Empty containers can be thrown away with household trash.

Items NOT Accepted:

How do I dispose of HHW?

Residents can bring their household hazardous waste to either of Pasco County’s two HHW Collection Centers, located at the West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility or the East Pasco Transfer Station. There may be a fee depending on the quantity and type of waste. Upon arrival, customers unload their own materials (bring gloves!), which are then either recycled or sent to a permitted hazardous waste facility for proper treatment.

• Electronics

• Cooking oils

• Fluorescent bulbs

• Gasoline

• Household chemicals and cleaners

• Herbicides and pesticides

• Household and lead-acid batteries

• Paints, solvents and stains

• Propane tanks

• Acetylene gas cylinders

• Ammunition

• Biomedical waste

• Business waste

• Drums of any size

• Explosives

• Fireworks

• Medications

• Radioactive materials

• Sharps

• Solar panels

HHW collection centers

East Pasco Transfer Station

Residents drop-off 9626 Handcart Road, Dade City 352-521-0500

Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility

Residents drop-off 14606 Hays Road, Spring Hill 727-861-3053

Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Household Hazardous Waste Reuse Program

Household Hazardous Waste diversion and disposal is critical. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center partners with a local Habitat for Humanity Restore to give usable household chemicals a second life.

When residents bring in chemical products that are still in good condition and more than half full, these items can be diverted from disposal and donated for reuse. This allows household hazardous waste that was previously bound for disposal to be used for its original purpose and helps support local community projects.

For more information on household hazardous waste disposal, contact Pasco County Environmental Compliance at 727-847-8123, ext. 2046 or visit bit.ly/Household ChemicalDisposal.

Going beyond the text: Student activity

Many of the everyday products we use in our homes are potentially harmful to humans, wildlife and the environment, and improper disposal of these items can be dangerous and deadly. Read the information on these pages about Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). Then, research HHW on the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at epa.gov/hw/ household-hazardous-waste-hhw.

Next, research products that are safer for human health and the environment on the EPA’s Safer Choice website epa. gov/saferchoice. Create a campaign encouraging Pasco County residents to reduce their use of harmful products and to dispose of their HHW safely.

First, write down your ideas. Then create a two-part campaign. U sing the advertisements in the Tampa Bay Times as models, create a full-page advertisement for the Times. Remember to design your ad keeping in mind purpose, audience and visual appeal. See if you can use the three rhetorical appeals – logos, ethos and pathos -- for the argument you are focusing on in the campaign.

For the second part of the campaign, create a video or commercial to enhance the points made in your print advertisement. The video should be between 30 seconds and 120 seconds in length. Share your campaign with your class.

Florida Standards: HE.412.CH.1.1; ELA.412.EE.1.1; ELA.412. EE.2.1; ELA.412.EE.3.1; ELA412.EE.4.1; ELA.412.EE.5.1; ELA.412. EE.6.1; ELA.412.C.1.5; ELA.412.C.2.1; ELA.412.C.3.1; ELA.412.C.4.1; ELA.412.C.5.1; ELA.412.F.1.3; SC.412.CC.2.1

WEST PASCO RESOURCE RECOVERY

Brush/Tree Drop-Off

Construction Debris

Metal, Electronics Battery & Chemical Drop-Off Tire Drop-Off

FL 34610

EAST PASCO TRANSFER STATION

9626 Handcart Rd, Dade City, FL 33525

Scalehouse to Help Direct you

Open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Items accepted at County Resource Recovery facilities:

✔ Up to 8 bags of trash per day

✔ Refrigerators

✔ Furniture ✔ Metal ✔ Construction debris (West Pasco only)

✔ Computer Monitor, Tower, or Laptop ✔ Yard Waste ✔ Propane Tank ✔ Mixed Loads ✔ Television ✔ Car/Pickup Tires ✔ Gasoline

Recycling ✔ Antifreeze ✔ Fluorescent Lightbulbs ✔ Latex and oil based paint ✔ Batteries ✔ Fertilizers ✔ Cleaning and Pool Chemicals ✔ Cooking Oil and Motor Oil

Some items may incur a charge. Go to MyPasco.net and search ‘trash’ or call 727-847-2411 for information.

Don’t Trash Your Batteries

Stop off at a drop off!

Most batteries contain valuable materials like Most batteries hold rare metals like lithium, cobalt and nickel which are precious resources we can’t afford to waste.

Batteries also contain lead, acid, and lithium—fire hazards and toxins. Tossing them in the trash risks pollution in our soil, water, and air.

Stop off at a drop-off!

Don’t

throw me away!

are also accepted at the West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility and the East Pasco Transfer Station. Additional locations listed on page 6 and page 11.

Going beyond the text:

Student activity

keeps them out of landfills, conserves rare metals, saves energy, and protects our planet for future

Together, recycled 13 tons of household batteries and 60 tons of leadacid batteries in 2025. Keep the momentum going and drop off your batteries today!

The next time your battery runs out, don’t throw it in the trash! Drop your batteries off for proper, safe disposal to prevent pollution and conserve energy and natural resources. Find a battery disposal location near you. Do some research about lithium-ion batteries on the Internet, reading this publication and checking out the Hazardous Waste Management Program in Kings County video: youtube. com/watch?v=D7td95ySam8 as well as the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety, https://batteryfiresafety.org/#section-1.

AVOID THE SPARK:

Be Battery Safety Smart.

PREVENT FIRES:

Never throw a lithium battery or lithiumbattery device in the trash or recycling bin!

Dispose of rechargeable batteries correctly!

Never crush or puncture a lithium ion battery

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries power many different types of electronic devices, such as cellphones, power tools, cordless vacuums, electric scooters, and much more. But in the trash, they can spark fires even if they look fine. Crushing or damage makes them ignite easily, which can cause fires in garbage trucks or landfills. Li-ion batteries must be specially handled and disposed of in order to keep them out of landfills and incinerators.

Pasco County residents can drop off lithium ion batteries at any Pasco County battery drop off location.

If the Li-ion battery becomes damaged or swollen, it can become a fire risk. Contact the battery or device manufacturer for specific handling information. Not all batteries are removable or serviceable by the user. Heed battery and product markings regarding safety and use. For more information about battery

Next, look for articles and images of items containing lithium-ion batteries in the Tampa Bay Times. See if you can find articles focusing on fire safety and battery safety as well.

Using the Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety infographic located at https:// admin.batteryfiresafety.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/Infographic_UL.pdf, create your own infographic showing the importance of proper battery disposal. Share

Household battery DROP-OFF locations:

• ALL Pasco County libraries

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday

• Land O’Lakes Recreation Center 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’Lakes

• Pasco County Community Services Elderly Nutrition, 600 Galen Wilson Blvd., Port Richey

• Central Pasco Professional Center Suite 202, 4111 Land O’Lakes Blvd., Land O’Lakes

• New Port Richey City Hall 5919 Main St., New Port Richey

• East Pasco Government Center 14236 Sixth St., Dade City

• West Pasco Government Center 8731 Citizens Dr., New Port Richey

your infographic and what you have learned with your class.

Pasco County Residential

Fats, oils and grease (FOG) refers to all cooking oils, including frying oil and meat drippings.

These FOGs can cause problems in home plumbing, the sewage collection system and septic systems. FOGs are one of the leading causes of sanitary sewer overflows, which can cause raw sewage to overflow into homes, yards, streets or parks.

Since 2007, Pasco County has participated in the Cooking Oil Recycling Effort (C.O.R.E.)

(C.O.R.E.)

C.O.R.E. tips

• Never pour grease down the sink.

• Before washing pots and dishes, scrape food waste into the trash.

• Minimize use of your garbage disposal. Small pieces of food can clog pipes.

• Use sink strainers and clean them often.

• Don’t mix the cooking oil with any other liquids or products

• Teach family members to follow your grease-fighting example.

program, a statewide initiative to educate the public on residential cooking oil collection and recycling.

Instead of pouring oil down the drain or tossing it in the trash, allow it to be used for biodiesel or livestock feed by bringing it to one of Pasco County’s four C.O.R.E. drop-off locations.

After cooking, let the oil cool, strain out any food particles, store it in a clean, leak-proof container and prepare it for transport.

C.O.R.E. drop-off locations

Pasco County residents are encouraged to recycle all used cooking oils and fats, including bacon grease. Liquids and semi-solids are accepted at the drop-off locations. Every ounce recycled is one less down the drain!

East Pasco Transfer Station

9526 Handcart Road, Dade City

Pasco County Facilities

7220 Osteen Road, New Port Richey

West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility

14606 Hays Road, Spring Hill

Zephyrhills Maintenance Yard 39421 South Ave., Zephyrhills

Commercial and industrial customers must contact a licensed commercial grease hauler for cooking oil disposal.

Going beyond the text: Student activity

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection notes recycling helps preserve natural resources and save energy we would use to manufacture things from raw materials. It also helps reduce pollution as well as saves money related to the cost of discarding items by cutting down on the amount of trash people throw away. Money is also saved by manufacturers by reducing energy costs. Recycling is the one thing we as individuals can control. Our waste reduction and recycling activities can make a difference.

The United States Environmental Protection reminds students, parents and teachers they can make a difference in reducing waste at school. Check out the information posted on the EPA’s “Reducing Waste: What Can you Do” webpage at epa.gov/recycle/reducing-waste-what-you-can-do. Look at the “Tips for students and schools” section.

Next, look through the advertisements, articles and photographs in the Tampa Bay Times. Make a list of all the items that you use at school (or at home). Can you reduce the

Recycle your e-waste

Did you know?

Less than 20% of electronics are recycled nationwide—but Pasco County is making progress. In 2025 alone, Pasco County residents helped recycle 146 tons of electronics by bringing them to a Pasco County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility.

Pasco County has been a pioneer in environmental responsibility

As Florida’s first county— and among the few nationwide—to establish an electronics recycling program, Pasco County has set the standard for sustainability. Despite the challenges and costs, Pasco County remains committed to keeping e-waste out of landfills and protecting the environment for generations to come.

Why recycle? Electronics contain plastics that can last thousands of years and metals that can contaminate soil and air. Recycling electronics keeps these materials out of landfills and reduces pollution.

Keep the momentum going. Bring your old electronics to any Pasco County HHW facility. Accepted items include cellphones, computers, monitors, towers, laptops, CRT and flatscreen TVs, and audio/video equipment.

• TVs, laptops, monitors, and CPUs: $5 per item

• TVs larger than 36 inches: $10 each

For more information, call Pasco County Resource Recovery, Environmental Compliance at 813-847-8123, ext. 2046.

amount of waste that is produced from these items. Create an infographic showing how you and your families can reduce waste and save energy.

Going beyond the text:

Student activity

Sharps Exchange Program

The Pasco County Sharps Exchange Program helps residents safely dispose of needles, syringes, tubes, and lancets—at no cost. Through a partnership with six local medical facilities, the program provides convenient locations where residents can exchange full sharps containers for new ones, ensuring safe handling and reducing risks to the community.

When sharps aren’t disposed of properly, they don’t just vanish—they can puncture trash bags, injure sanitation workers, wash into waterways, or even end up on roads, creating real dangers for people and wildlife.

How It Works:

• Pick up a red sharps container at one of the six participating facilities.

• Store it securely, out of reach of children and pets.

• Place used needles intact into the container—never recap or break them.

• When full, seal and return it for a free replacement.

The United States Environmental Protection agency defines the four rules of waste reduction:

1. Reduce by purchasing, consuming, and throwing away less trash. The best way to reduce waste is by source reduction. This includes creation of the product as well as packaging.

2. Reuse by repairing, donating or selling unneeded or unwanted items. Reuse is a great option because items do not have to be reprocessed before they can be used again.

3. Recycle, which consists of a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste. Sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials and manufacturing the raw materials into new products.

4. Buy recycled items that are made of recycled materials.

Now that you have learned these four rules, it is important to encourage others to follow them as well. Students, adults and businesses can be part of waste reduction to protect Earth and the environment. Do some research on waste reduction using this publication, the Internet and the Tampa Bay Times. Compile the information you find and write an informative newspaper article about waste reduction. Use the news articles in the Tampa Bay Times as models for your article. Be sure to focus on the who, what, why, where and how aspects of waste reduction. Add some photographs to your article as shown in the Times. Share what you have learned with your class.

Florida Standards: ELA.412. EE.1.1; ELA.412.EE.4.1; ELA.412. EE.5.1; ELA.412. EE.6.1; ELA.412.F.2.1; ELA.412.C.1.3; ELA.412.C.1.4; ELA.412.C.1.5; ELA.412.C.2.1; ELA.412.C.3.1; ELA.412.C.4.1; ELA.412.C.5.1; ELA.412.C.1.5; ELA.412.R.2.2; ELA.412.R.2.3; ELA.412.V.1.1; SC.912.L.17.14

Do’s and Don’ts:

✔ Do use approved containers or a sturdy plastic bottle if necessary.

✔ ✅Do keep containers sealed and stored safely.

✘ Don’t throw sharps in household trash or recycling.

✘ Don’t flush needles down toilets or drains.

For additional information, contact Pasco County Environmental Compliance at 727-847-2411, ext. 2046.

Sharps are not accepted at Pasco County Health Department locations or Household Hazardous Waste Centers.

Sharps Exchange Program locations

Hours are subject to change, call to verify:

Advent Health Zephyrhills

Outpatient Info Desk

Hours 6:00 am to 4:30 M-F

7050 Gall Boulevard

Zephyrhills, FL 33541

Trinity Medical Center

Emergency Room 24 Hours 9330 State Road 54, Trinity, FL 34654

Advent Health Dade City

Main Entrance Info Desk

Hours 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

13100 Fort King Road Dade City, FL 33525

Morton Plant North Bay

Medical Arts Building / Outreach Laboratory, Suite 100A

Hours 5:00 am to 5:30 pm M-F

6600 Madison Street

New Port Richey, FL 34652

Suncoast Eye Center

Surgery Center-Back of Building

Hours 8:00 am to 5:00 pm M-F

14003 Lakeshore Boulevard

Hudson, FL 34667

Regional Medical Center

Bayonet Point

Emergency Room

24 Hours

14100 Fivay Road

Hudson, FL 34667

Protect your family, your pets and the Earth: Dispose

of unwanted, unused or expired medication properly

Pasco County medication take-back locations

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office West Operations Center

7432 Little Road, New Port Richey Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

New Port Richey Police Department

6739 Adams St., New Port Richey Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office District 3 Office

11530 Trinity Blvd., Trinity Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office East Operations Center

36409 SR 52, Dade City Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dade City Police Department

38030 Meridian Ave., Dade City 24/7

In addition to the locations above, some retail pharmacies offer medication take-back collection. Contact your local store or visit dea.gov/takebackday to find a location near you.

Unwanted or expired medication should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink.

In cities and towns where residences are connected to wastewater treatment plants, prescription and over-the-counter drugs poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet can pass through the treatment system and enter rivers and lakes. They may flow downstream to serve as sources for community drinking water supplies. Water

treatment plants are generally not equipped to routinely remove medicines.

In homes that use septic tanks, prescription and over-the-counter drugs poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet can leach into the ground and seep into groundwater. Eventually, these drugs end up in our waterways, where they can negatively impact aquatic wildlife and, potentially, human health and life.

How to properly dispose of medications

• DON’T give medications to another person.

• DON’T flush medications down the toilet or pour them down the drain.

• DON’T throw away medications without disguising them from humans and animals.

• DO visit a participating take-back location or collection center for proper disposal. Pasco

County law enforcement agencies offer five take-back locations across the county. Many retail pharmacies also offer drug-take back collection via drop-off boxes inside.

• DO participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (takebackday.dea.gov).

• DO follow the guidelines below if you must dispose of medications in the trash.

Put medications in the trash the right way

If none of the disposal options above are available to you, follow these steps to safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications. Never put medications in the trash without disguising them.

1. Keep medicine in the original container so it can be identified in case of accidental ingestion.

2. Use a marker or razor blade to remove your personal information and prescription number from the label.

3. Add water or soda to pills to start dissolving them. If the drug is a liquid, add dirt or cat litter to help discourage misuse or unintentional use of the medication if it’s found and opened.

4. Secure the lid tightly and seal it with duct tape.

5. Place medicine container(s) in a non-see-through container such as a coffee can or empty laundry bottle.

6. Tape that container closed and place it in the trash.

About the Recycling and Education Division

About NIE

The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education program (NIE) is a cooperative effort between schools and the Times Publishing Co. to encourage the use of newspapers in print and electronic form as educational resources — a “living textbook.”

The Recycling and Education Division is committed to reducing the waste stream through recycling and reuse, encouraging environmental stewardship, and providing information and presentations to educate citizens about recycling and the benefits of waste reduction.

Pasco Recycling is a frequent presence at community events, from neighborhood gatherings to large festivals, holiday jamborees and farmers’ markets, educating residents about recycling and waste reduction.

For more information about recycling in Pasco County or to invite Pasco Recycling to your event, call 727-847-8123 or email recycling@MyPasco.net.

Credits

Designer:

Matthew Southard, Times staff Cover photo: Shutterstock

Written by:

Rachelle G. Dobbs, Pasco County Utilities recycling manager; Jonathan Toplak, Pasco County Environmental Compliance supervisor; John Fey, Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinator; Lottie Kelley, Reworld administrative assistant; Jodi Pushkin, Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education manager

Florida Standards

NIE serves educators, students and families by providing schools with class sets of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Tampa Bay Times plus awardwinning original educational publications, teacher guides, lesson plans, educator workshops and many more resources — all at no cost to schools, teachers or families.

In 2024-2025, NIE provided more than 10 million digital newspaper licenses and nearly 200,000 print newspapers to Tampa Bay classrooms.

For more information about NIE, visit tampabay.com/nie, call 727-893-8138 or email ordernie@tampabay.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TBTNIE.

This publication and its activities incorporate the following Florida Standards for elementary, middle and high school students.

Florida Standards: HE.312.CH.1.1; SS.K.CG.1.1; SS.7.CG.3.10; SP.312.US.9.2a; ELA.K12.EE.1.1; ELA.K12.EE.2.1; ELA.K12.EE.3.1; ELA.K12.EE.4.1; ELA.K12.EE.5.1; ELA.K12.EE.6.1; ELA.312.C.1.2; ELA.312.C.1.3; ELA.312.C.1.4; ELA.312.C.1.5; ELA.312.C.2.1; ELA.312.C.3.1; ELA.312.C.4.1; ELA.312.C.5.1; ELA.312.F.1.3; ELA.312.F.1.4; ELA.312.F.2.1; ELA.312.F.2.2; ELA.312.F.2.4; ELA.312.R.2.2; ELA.312.R.2.3; ELA.312.R.2.4; ELA.312.V.1.1; ELA.312.V.1.2; ELA.312.V.1.3