COUNTY AND PARTNERS ASK RESIDENTS TO ‘PUT A LID ON IT’ TO PROTECT LOWER KEYS WILDLIFE

BIG PINE KEY, FL – Monroe County Solid Waste, in partnership with Waste Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Save Our Key Deer, Florida Keys Wildlife Society, and Coast Love, hosted educational booths and a lidded trashcan giveaway at Big Pine Key Community Park last Saturday, Feb. 26. Approximately 300 people attended the event and educational experience.

The event focused on Key Deer and Lower Keys wildlife education and awareness regarding disposing of trash properly in these critical areas. More than 85 percent of the Key Deer population is found on Big Pine Key and No Name Key, and other deer can be found through mile marker 16 in the Lower Keys. The lidded trashcans should help deter local wildlife from dumping over, eating, or being hurt by residential trash.

“The banner welcoming everyone to the event is hanging in front of Winn Dixie in Big Pine Key now,” said Monroe County Solid Waste Director Cheryl Sullivan. “We hope this will be a good reminder for folks to continue to be responsible for their trash and to “Put a Lid on It.”

Any residents who visited the five educational booths were also treated to a Centennial Bank hotdog.

“I am thrilled we were able to create a public-private partnership with Waste Management and these wonderful community organizations to keep trash out of our neighborhoods by putting a lid on it,” said Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Coldiron. “I hope we can keep the momentum going on this initiative to protect our vulnerable wildlife.”

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