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Florida Statewide Rule

Florida County Recycling Goal: 75% (Fla. Stat. 403.706)

Light RestrictionsApplies statewide across Florida (2026)

Key Facts

Statute
Fla. Stat. 403.706(2)(a)
Recycling goal
75% by Dec 31, 2020
Who is bound
Every Florida county
Oversight agency
Florida DEP
Enforcement
Reporting, no resident fine
Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Florida Statute 403.706(2)(a) requires every county to run a recyclable-materials recycling program built to hit a 75 percent recycling goal by December 31, 2020, stepping up from 40 percent in 2012. The Department of Environmental Protection tracks progress.

Each county shall implement a recyclable materials recycling program that shall have a goal of recycling recyclable solid waste by 40 percent by December 31, 2012; 50 percent by December 31, 2014; 60 percent by December 31, 2016; 70 percent by December 31, 2018; and 75 percent by December 31, 2020.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 403.706(2)(a) obligates each Florida county to implement a recyclable materials recycling program aimed at recycling solid waste by set benchmarks: 40 percent by 2012, 50 percent by 2014, 60 percent by 2016, 70 percent by 2018, and 75 percent by December 31, 2020. Under subsection (1) the county governing body holds the power and duty to operate the disposal and recycling facilities serving all incorporated and unincorporated areas. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects the annual county recycling data and reports statewide performance to the Legislature. The goal binds county governments, not individual households, so it drives curbside and drop-off programs rather than resident fines.

Violations & Penalties

There is no household fine in 403.706; the goal binds counties. A county falling short faces DEP reporting and legislative scrutiny, not a statutory penalty, and must keep operating its recycling program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida law make me recycle at home?
No. Section 403.706 sets a 75 percent goal for counties to hit through their programs; it does not fine individual households for failing to recycle.
What is Florida's statewide recycling goal?
75 percent of recyclable solid waste, the final benchmark in Fla. Stat. 403.706(2)(a), targeted for December 31, 2020, after earlier steps of 40, 50, 60 and 70 percent.
Who enforces the recycling goal?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection gathers county recycling data and reports statewide progress toward the 75 percent goal to the Legislature.

Sources

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