Virtual MRF Public Meeting
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
The proposed new Lee County Material Recycling Facility (MRF) will be where all the county’s household and business recycling material is processed. This includes the handling of clean bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and plastic containers. It will be a fully indoor operation. Trucks will tip the materials inside; the machinery will be inside, and the rolling stock will be inside. The facility will only accept household and business recycling material; there will be inspections of inbound material to remove unacceptable materials.
WHY DOES LEE COUNTY NEED THIS NEW FACILITY?
As Lee County continues to grow, Solid Waste’s current Material Recycling Facility is projected to reach capacity for processing materials. Lee County Solid Waste consistently has been ranked as one of the top five recycling communities in the state of Florida. To ensure that the County meets recycling requirements, a facility with increased capacity is necessary.
WHAT THE MRF IS, AND WHAT IT IS NOT
View the full presentation from the March 5, 2024 Lee Board of County Commissioners’ meeting.
ZONING OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY
The property being considered for the new Material Recycling Facility is zoned Industrial General (IG) and designated as Industrial Development on the Future Land Use map. IG Zoning has a minimum 25-foot setback requirement. The proposed site plan for the recycling facility is anticipated to provide a 1,025-foot setback from the property line: 1,000-feet more than would be required for another development.
Here are a few examples of alternative uses of the property if the county does not purchase the land for the MRF:
Automobile Repair and Services
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Manufacturing, Repair or Wholesale of Lumber & Wood Products
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Trucking Terminal
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Concrete Batch Plant
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View a more comprehensive list of permitted uses in the General Industrial Zoning District
here.
COMMUNICATIONS TIMELINE TO DATE
The communications timeline for this project includes:
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March 2023: Lee Board of County Commissioners briefed on status of the property search.
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June 2023: Hosted Gulf Coast Landfill Tour with Pelican Preserve Board members.
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Aug. 1, 2023: At a publicly noticed meeting, Lee Board of County Commissioners approves purchase of property.
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October 2023: Lee County Sold Waste met with Pelican Preserve Board.
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November 2023: Lee County Solid Waste invited the public to a meeting at Gateway CDD Board Room.
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January 2024: Lee County Solid Waste hosted a tour of the MRF at Buckingham for Pelican Preserve Board Members.
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March 5, 2024: Lee County Solid Waste provided update at regularly scheduled and publicly noticed Lee Board of County Commissioners’ meeting.
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March 21, 2024: Lee County to hold open house-style public information session:
- Thursday, March 21, 2024
- 4 – 6 p.m.
- Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church, 11381 Gateway Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33913
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To learn more about this project, please explore the below list of frequently asked questions. If you have questions that are not covered, you can contact Lee County Solid Waste at
SolidWaste@leegov.com.
Facility/Hours
Contamination/Material
Noise/Berm/Setback/Odor/Dust
Equipment
Environmental/Zoning
Traffic/Safety
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
PROJECT REPORTS & STUDIES
Lee County Noise Ordinance
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