Responsible Recycling Osceola

Collage of Responsible Recycling Osceola (RRO) events(JPEG, 297KB)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Osceola County a three-year Consumer Recycling Education & Outreach Grant, which the County accepted in 2024. This outreach program is designed to educate community members on proper recycling practices, with a particular emphasis on the creative uses and benefits of glass recycling. The project reflects a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement across Osceola County.

At the launch of the Responsible Recycling Osceola Program, the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners reaffirmed the County’s commitment to sustainability and responsible recycling. With support from the EPA and strong community engagement, the initiative is designed to educate residents and businesses, generate enthusiasm for glass recycling, and lay the groundwork for a long-term, sustainable program.

Outreach and Education

We travel throughout the county with our glass pulverizer demonstrating a crucial step in the glass recycling process – turning glass, collected from our community, back into sand!

Glass crushing machine named Sandy

We share a passion for helping our community learn and take pride in caring for the environment. Whether it’s through hands-on demonstrations, educational booths, workshops, art contests, or classes, our goal is to encourage responsible recycling and strengthen a sense of community responsibility. 

Schedule an event with us!

Interested in having us visit your school or organization?

Fill out the interest form here

Glass Collection

7,725+ pounds of glass bottles recycled

Our program could not continue without the glass donations from our local community members. Interested in donating your waste glass to our program? Please fill out the short form with a request to be added to our collection email list:

Donate Glass Now

Thank you to our donors!

  • Vintage Vino
  • Cafe Barista
  • Big John’s BBQ
  • Master Gardeners
  • Dagmar L.
  • Donya C. 
  • Sreeni
  • Nicole H. 
  • Dana S.
  • Victoria A.
  • Lorna J.
  • Veronica M.  
  • Em E.
  • Rosa C.

Glass-sand in Action!

Due to the overwhelming popularity of our program, and public interest, this program has grown beyond outreach and education. Check out how the  glass collected within our community is being repurposed locally! More details and updates will be posted here, come back soon to see how things are going.

Wildflowers planted at Osceola Heritage Park's Extension Services

Landscaping Projects 2026

Osceola Heritage Park Extension Services

In partnership with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Services and the Florida Master Gardener Volutneers, Responsible Recycling Osceola supplied glass-sand for a landscape project to rejuvenate the front entrance garden at the Osceola Heritage Park Extensions Services building.

Before and After: Repurposing glass-sand for a landscape project at the entrance of the Osceola Heritage Park Extension Services.
 
Robert Guevara Center and Park

Responsible Recycling Osceola (RRO) had a great time at the 2026 Community Resource Fair, held by District 2 Commissioner Viviana Janer, at the Robert Guevara Community Center. During the event, previously donated glass bottles were turned into glass-sand as part of RRO’s outreach and education activities. The sand created that very day was immediately put to use as a top dressing for a landscape feature in the park area, giving new life to recycled glass while helping beautify the space. It’s a simple, but powerful example of how recycling can make a positive impact right here in our community.

Before and After: Previously donated glass bottles turned into glass-sand to top a landscape feature at the Robert Guevara Community Center.

Planting Experiments

Planting Experiments 2026

Studies have shown that soil amended with glass-sand is a great planting method! The NeoCity Academy EcoKnights are experimenting this in their very own student-led hydroponics system.

On October 14th, 2025, RRO participated in the Fall Festival at NeoCity Academy where members of the EcoKnights provided tabletop educational material regarding their planting experiment with glass-sand!(JPG, 145KB)

Planting Experiments 2025

To commemorate Arbor Day with Valencia College at the Osceola Campus, our glass-sand was used to amend soil in the planting of a Kapok Tree!

To commemorate Arbor Day with Valencia College at the Osceola Campus, our glass-sand was used to amend soil in the planting of a Kapok Tree!(JPG, 146KB)

Tree Farm Project 2026

In partnership with our Public Lands and Environment Department, our glass-sand will be coating the floor of our Tree Farm greenhouses. Detering any unwanted weeds, this will save costs on supplies and labor.

Program Accomplishments

Outstanding Public Education & Outreach Award

Honored by the National Recycling Coalition for exceptional leadership in community recycling education and outreach, the Office of Sustainability Team received the Beth Brown Boettner for Outstanding Public Education and Outreach Award at the 2025 National Recycling Coalition Congress in Wichita, Kansas.

 

Glass Waste Diversion Initiative

Successfully diverted thousands of pounds of glass from landfills and reduced contamination in the local recycling stream through a community glass bottle donation program.

Recycling & Community Art Contest

Organized a student art competition promoting recycling and community responsibility, with winning artwork featured in program marketing and advertising.

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