Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste Coordinator Kurt Seaburg recently received a Certificate of Appreciation for his and the Household Hazardous Waste Center's work in helping support Florida's Hazardous Materials Awareness Week. The certificate came from the Florida State Emergency Response Commission and is in recognition of contributions to increasing chemical safety in our communities (for the collection and proper disposal of compact fluorescent lamps).

Local Emergency Planning Committee Director Dwayne Mundy who presented the award said, "This award is in recognition of the help that Kurt Seaburg has provided in helping increase awareness on recycling and safety issues involving compact fluorescent lamps.  It is important that the public know how to safely clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp."

Kurt Seaburg said "Alachua County's Environmental Protection Department has been collecting for proper disposal compact fluorescent lamps since they first became available due to the mercury they contain. Our program currently accepts CFLs as well as any fluorescent lamp at 14 locations throughout the county. Residents can contact our office at 352-334-0440 or visit our website at www.alachuacountyhazwaste.us  for locations. We are honored to be recognized for this award and appreciate the outstanding efforts that the LEPC has provided to the region."

Compact fluorescent lamps are small fluorescent light bulbs that can be screwed into a regular light socket.  They use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.  However, these money and energy saving lamps contain a very small amount of potentially hazardous mercury.

February 14-20, 2010, has been declared as Hazardous Materials Awareness Week by Florida Governor Charlie Crist.  One goal this year is to increase public and responder safety by ensuring that fire departments have the most up to date information on hazardous chemicals being stored by businesses and government agencies.

For more additional information, contact Local Emergency Planning Committee Director Dwayne Mundy at mundy@ncfrpc.org or call (352) 955-2200, Ext. 108.