FLORIDA ORGANICS RECYCLING CENTER for EXCELLENCE
Florida's 75 Percent Recycling Goal
Florida has established an ambitious 75% recycling goal, underscoring the state’s commitment to minimizing waste streams entering landfills. Organics make up a significant share of this waste, making organics recycling a critical part of achieving this goal.
- In 2025, Florida generated 54.5 million tons of municipal solid waste.
- 18.4% of this total was food waste, yard waste, and other paper.
- Current recycling rates for organics:
- Food waste: 6.9%
- Yard waste: 10%
- Other paper: 1.5%
- Benefits of recycling organics include:
- Diverting waste from landfills and incineration
- Treating pathogenic organisms and stabilizing nutrients
- Recycling phosphorus
- Improving soil health by enhancing moisture retention, texture, and organic matter content
- Supporting erosion control and improving ecology
- Aiding the production of alternative fuels
Increasing organics recycling is essential to meeting the state’s 75% recycling goal.
For more information on this program, please visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) website.
RESEARCH & DEMONSTRATION
FORCE Featured Researcher
Helena Solo-Gabriele, Ph.D.
Professor (Composting Sargassum)
University of Miami
hsgabriele@miami.edu
Dr. Solo-Gabriele's research has focused on evaluating the relationship between the environment and human health. Her research has spanned diverse areas including evaluating the impacts of chemicals in the environment and evaluating the impacts of microbial contaminants in coastal zones.
FORCE Featured Researcher
John Bowden
Professor (PFAS in Compost)
University of Florida
john.bowden@ufl.edu
Dr. John Bowden’s research spans analytical and environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, marine science, toxicology and community engagement efforts, to study the "life cycle" of chemicals of emerging concern. This includes their distribution in the environment, fate and transport, management and remediation, bio-integration and possible adverse exposure health-related outcomes.
FORCE Featured Researcher
Dr. Debra Reinhart
Assistant VP for Research & Commercialization and Pegasus Professor (Food Waste Collection)
University of Central Florida
Debra.Reinhart@ucf.edu
Debra Reinhart is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Commercialization and a Pegasus Professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She serves as an Associate Editor for the Waste Management Journal and is actively involved in leadership roles with the International Waste Working Group and the Environmental Research and Education Foundation. Her research focuses primarily on waste treatment, including bioreactors, and sustainability for landfills.
