Florida black bears will eat just about anything, including trash left out at the end of a driveway.

The omnivores aren’t particularly picky, and Collier County hopes to reduce the risk to residents of bears wandering around neighborhoods.

On Friday, any county resident can purchase new bear-proof trash containers that have a locking mechanism to keep the bears out. Collier is the fourth county in the state to offer these cans.

Kari Hodgson, director of solid and hazardous waste with the coun

Both Shoemaker and Hines are facing charges of cruelty toward a child, and aggravated battery on a child.

The COVID-19 epidemic and ensuing stay-at-home mentality has brought us restaurant meals delivered to our door, retail goods dropped on our front porch and foam. Lots of foam.

Until now, the foam used to keep takeout meals hot and to protect TVs and other delivered goods from breaking has been going to the landfill.

Collier County has launched a pilot program to recycle the foam. While a few private businesses around the state recycle foam, Collier County officials believe theirs is the first

A new layer has been added to Collier County’s recycling efforts thanks to a $50,000 grant that has helped launch the new pilot program.

The County purchased a foam densifier machine that is specifically made for recycling foam. Director for Collier County Solid Waste Division Kari Hodgson said this is a project the community has wanted.

“We are very excited to offer Collier County residents and the commercial industry free recycling drop off of foam at the North Collier Recycling Center starting October first,” Hodgson said.

Beginning October 1, residents of Collier County can drop off foam products free of charge to the North Collier Recycling Drop-Off Center located at 9950 Goodlette Frank Road. The county said Collier is believed to be the only county in Florida offering this service to its residents.

Collier County, Florida, announced Oct. 1 that it will begin offering expanded polystyrene recycling effective immediately at its North Collier Recycling Drop-Off Center. The county says it is one of the leading counties in Florida proving this service, which is aimed at keeping foam out of landfill and helping preserve the environment.

Residents and commercial customers can drop off foam products at the North Collier Recycling Drop-Off Center for free. Most foam products with a No. 6 recycling symbol can now be recycled, including clean takeout containers, coolers and egg cartons.

Collier County’s foam recycling pilot program was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition. The grant was used to purchase a foam densifier, which compresses foam into blocks which are then sold to a vendor for collection and resale.

Collier County invested $10.5 million in a new wastewater pump station meant to replace aging infrastructure and prepare part of the region for large storm events that may knock out power.

Tucked at the dead end of Thomasson Lane just northwest of Lely, the two-story building houses three large pumps capable of pushing 15 million gallons of wastewater through the county’s system every day.

Wastewater coming through the station stays within the pipes getting rid of the need for a wet well, whic

Both Shoemaker and Hines are facing charges of cruelty toward a child, and aggravated battery on a child.

Collier County to add more generators for pump stations to prevent flooding

Collier County is making sure people never have to see raw sewage on its streets again. This happened when Hurricane Irma hit Southwest Florida in 2017.

The Amberton Townhomes community in Collier County was among those flooded four years ago after the storm.

Collier County Board of County Commissioners approved more funding for the county’s $4.8 million project to receive more backup generators to place at pump stati