Recycling is more than just sorting metal or plastic out of your garbage. Reclaimed materials in the garden can create beauty while protecting resources.

Using yard waste for composting is a sustainable way of creating organic fertilizer.

Decomposing organic matter releases nutrients back to the soil in a form that plants can easily use.

Recycling yard waste (FFL™) https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/about-ffl/9-principles/principle-7-recycle-waste/

DIY Compost tips and resources https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2014/09/09/diy-composting/

Garden recycling tips https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/baker/docs/pdf/horticulture/RecyclingintheGarden.pdf

Pinellas County recycling information https://pinellas.gov/municipal-contact-information-garbage-and-recycling-collection/

City of St Petersburg recycling information https://www.stpete.org/residents/utilities/residential_trash___recycling/collection_schedule.php#!rc-cpage=45424

Pinellas County services finder https://pinellas.gov/my-neighborhood/

Municipal green waste programs https://pinellas.gov/where-does-it-go-search-tool/#home=/more-recycling-resale-and-donation-outlets/food-scraps

Reclaimed Water info https://pinellas.gov/reduce-fertilizer-use-when-irrigating-with-reclaimed-water/

Tampa Bay Water rain barrel information https://www.tampabaywater.org/blog/saving-for-those-non-rainy-days/

Resources:

UF/IFAS Extension, Pinellas County

12520 Ulmerton Rd.

Largo, FL 33774

Phone (727) 582-2109

[email protected]

NOTE: Extension Help Desk will be closed for renovation October 20-22, 2025

SWFWMD Watering Restrictions https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/epermitting/district-water-restrictions

Pinellas County Water Conservation and Watering Schedule Rules https://pinellas.gov/department/water-conservation/

https://pinellas.gov/watering-schedule-and-rules/

Pinellas County Fertilizer Ordinance

https://pinellas.gov/pinellas-county-fertilizer-ordinance/

Soil Solarization

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/soil_solarization

Land measurement tools are built into the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s website https://www.pcpao.gov/gis.html

Edible Landscaping Using the Nine Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP594

Monthly Gardening Calendars

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar/

South Florida Regional Gardening Calendars

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP452#SECTION_4

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Pinellas County Help Desk & Plant Clinics https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellas/lawn-and-garden/contact-us-for-help/

Social Media https://www.facebook.com/PinellasExtension/ https://www.youtube.com/user/PinellasExtensionTV

Ask IFAS https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program https://floridafriendlylandscaping.com/

Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Gardening Solutions https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/

9 Principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping™ https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/about-ffl/9-principles/

Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Apps https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/

Planting Pinellas Post Newsletter https://subscribe.ifas.ufl.edu/extweb/pinellas_planting.html

Tampa Bay Water Rebate Program https://tampabaywaterwise.org/en/rebates/

Barbara Strickland Endowment https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/026203-barbara-strickland-pinellas-county-master-gardener-volunteer-endowment/

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This podcast is brought to you by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, an equal opportunity institution.