Pasco County Utilities is pleased to release the results of the 2017 Recycling Survey.

The survey asked Pasco County residents about their solid waste and recycling practices and was available online from February 6, 2017, through March 31, 2017.

The goal of the survey is to expand recycling efforts and to help delay the financial impact of expanding Pasco County’s Waste-to-Energy Facility (WTE), which is near capacity.

7,460 people took the survey. Of those respondents, 99 percent live in Pasco County and 90 percent own their home. 2,791 people left comments.

 Highlights of the survey results include:

 64 percent never use Pasco’s drop-off locations

 46 percent recycle at grocery/retail locations

 41 percent recycle at work

 73 percent set out trash twice per week

 55 percent set out recycling twice per month

Here are results of some of the 2017 Recycling Survey questions:

If the County-wide recycling program were expanded to pick up recycling one day per week, would you set out recyclables every week?

 Yes – 84 percent

 No – 16 percent

Would you be willing to give up one day of trash collection a week so you could have recycling expanded to once a week at no additional cost?

 Yes – 51 percent

 No – 49 percent

If you would prefer to keep twice-a-week trash collection, and also have once-a-week recycling collection, would you be willing to pay an additional $2 to $4 a month for the service?

 Yes – 52 percent

 No – 47 percent

Would you like a recycling container to be provided?

 Yes – 58 percent

 No – 42 percent

Would you be willing to pay an additional $1 a month to have a recycling container provided for your use?

 Yes – 47 percent

 No – 53 percent

Top recurring comments include:

 Education / Outreach – Critical to succeed

 Make recycling mandatory

 Go to weekly recycling

 Allow plastic bags to be recycled

 Expand what people may recycle

 Include multi-family and businesses

For more background on the 2017 Utilities Recycling Survey click on this link to view previous press release: http://fl-pascocounty.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3929