By KEYNA CORY
The Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation proudly announces the winners of the 2025 Recycling Champions Awards, recognizing companies, organizations, governmental entities and individuals that have made a significant impact in advancing recycling and sustainability across the state.
Each year, the Foundation honors those who demonstrate innovation and leadership not only in recycling but also in areas such as water reuse, energy efficiency, sustainability, infrastructure and environmental stewardship. The 2025 award recipients exemplify collaboration, creativity and commitment to Florida’s circular economy.
2025 Recycling Champions
The Florida Bar Book Recycling Program
For 24 years, the Florida Bar has partnered with the City of Tallahassee, the Southern Waste Information Exchange, Greif, Inc. and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to operate a successful Book Collection and Recycling Program.
This annual initiative gives attorneys and community members an opportunity to recycle outdated Florida Statutes, law books and other printed materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. Since its inception, nearly half a million pounds of books have been recycled—diverting multiple tons from disposal each year.
The program showcases the power of collaboration between professional organizations, local government, private industry, and nonprofits. It also reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship within the legal community.
Novolex
Novolex continues to demonstrate how a for-profit company can drive sustainability while creating jobs, value and measurable impact. Through its Convenient Recycling Access Program at Publix and other Florida grocers, and its Bag2Bag® recycling initiative, Novolex transforms returned plastic bags into recycled resin used to make new retail bags and packaging products.
By anchoring manufacturing in Jacksonville and promoting local recycling access, Novolex helps strengthen Florida’s circular economy, ensuring consumers can see and trust that the bags they recycle become something new.
Orange County Public Schools
Orange County Public Schools leads by example in fostering sustainability and environmental responsibility among students and staff. Through its “Tough on Trash” initiative, schools conduct hands-on experiments to measure and reduce their own waste.
Beyond recycling, the school district has piloted food scrap composting at 21 schools, rescuing over 512,000 pounds of food and turning it into nutrient-rich soil for school gardens. These programs inspire the next generation to rethink waste and embrace sustainability in everyday life.
Naples Airport Authority
The Naples Airport Authority and its Fixed-Base Operator, Naples Aviation, have embedded environmental sustainability into their operations. Their Environmental Sustainability in Aviation initiative includes two key components — Transformative Fuel Initiative and Fleet Electrification.
These efforts are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and enhancing the resiliency of airport operations — all while setting a standard for sustainable aviation practices statewide.
St. Lucie County Solid Waste Division
Through its creative Recycle Rangers program, the St. Lucie County Solid Waste Division has expanded recycling education and engagement across the community. Combining classroom presentations, community events and interactive experiences, the initiative has reached thousands of residents—from students to seniors — helping to make recycling fun, memorable and accessible.
The Recycle Rangers program demonstrates how local government can inspire environmental stewardship through creativity and community connection.
The awards were presented during the Florida Recycles Day event held at Florida Polytechnic University.
Keyna Cory serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation, a coalition of leading Florida businesses and associations dedicated to educating policymakers, business leaders and the public on the value of recycling and the importance of recycling correctly. For more information, visit www.flrecycling.org.
