4/24/1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

March 29, 1985 SEEP BREVARD BEAUTIFUL, INC. 1900 S. Harbor City Blvd., Suite 218 }� M.111 *ne, Florida 32901b- - 725-4554 Commis UTION LIST -� Commi ssi-oner Patrick Ly�sfGt Chairman, Indian River County Commission 1840 25th Street .....Vero Beach, FL 32960 - - Dear Commissioner Lyons: r- sroners Administrator .Attorney Personnel�- Public- Works , rnunitY DevItt, s 1—� fin&nceOther Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc., the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful is a non-partisan, non-profit; public service organization dedicated to - litter reduction and community improvement through volunteering and coopera- tive action at the local level to improve the ways solid waste is handled. KBB's major program is the behavior based Keep America Beautiful system which depends upon marshalling widespread community support and on private initiatives for sustained reductions in litter while at the same time fostering civic pride. Our organization has been working on a variety of community projects. Among them is the development of ordinances and laws that favorably contribute to litter reductions and more beautiful Brevard County. .In spite of good efforts by KBB and other environmentally concerned groups, litter and trash still scars the highways and beaches of our County. A major portion of this litter is discarded soda and beer cans and bottles that line Florida's roadsides, beaches, parks and fields and overflows its landfills. They are the most visible, most dangerous and non -degradable portion of litter and cost cities, counties and the state millions of dollars to clean up each year. In Florida, the Department of Transportation alone spends more than $2.5 million annually on litter pick-up. The department estimates that at least 20 percent of roadside litter can be attributed to beer and soft drink containers. Effectively addressing the problem of discarded beverage containers alone could save Florida taxpayers a minimum of $500,000 per year in litter pick-up costs. Substantially more savings could be realized by county and city governments by controlling bottle and can litter. Over the past few years, nine states have enacted bottle laws beginning with Oregon in 1972. Today, there is documented proof in those states where the law is operating it is popular and there has been a substantial reduction of litter and trash. The State of Florida is now particularly in need of this type of legislation. The time has come for tourist dependent Florida to -preserve its natural attractiveness to .visitors and residents by approving a law aimed at clearing our state of soft drink and beer cans and bottle trash. State Senator Jeanne Malchon has introduced Senate Bill 92 for consideration during the 1985 Florida Legislature, which if passed, would significantly eradicate this unsightly and dangerous blight from our environment. W APR 24 1985 BOOR 6O Pw632. J