The Cedar Key Advisory Panel was formed on January 23, 2009 with the first organizational meeting being Feb 18, 2009. The following mission statement was written: Through government leadership and community participation, we will preserve these islands and become a model for energy awareness, conservation and sustainability. Our approach has been to educate, facilitate and encourage. So, here`s our "Year End Report" to you. RECYCLING INITIATIVES: After meeting with Levy County Recycle folks and visiting the recycling center several times, the County agreed to dedicated several trailers to Cedar Key and repaint them green. Volunteers bought and applied signage to the trailers to help residents and visitors in their recycling efforts. In addition glass recycling was added to the list of materials that can be recycled in Cedar Key thanks to the persistence and investigative efforts of the EAP. Soon thereafter, the City of Cedar Key & City Commissioners granted us permission to relocate the recycling trailer on City land across from the Market and a second trailer was added for businesses. Volunteers built a fence, enhanced the site with plantings and provided signage. Later an informational kiosk & benches were added, one of which is currently being artfully decorated with broken china and discarded materials. A bottle tree adorns the site and Christmas decorations were added over the holidays.
In early April, volunteers in our Neighborhood Network Program went door-to-door distributing Recycling Magnets and other informational material about the Hurricane Re-entry Plan, Vials of Life Program, Hazardous Waste Clean-up Day and energy conservation booklets to every home possible in Cedar Key. In addition, similar magnets were distributed to all lodging facilities to help visitors know how and where to recycle in Cedar Key. These magnets were designed and purchased by EAP volunteers. Beginning in April and continuing through the year volunteers, using wire purchased by the City, have constructed, labeled and disturbed recycling bins adjacent to 35+ trashcans throughout town. At the Seafood Festival Parade you met "The Recyclables," four costumed characters representing what can be recycled - paper, glass, metal and plastic. These playful dancing volunteers have since appeared at the CKS Fall Festival and in a skit about recycling at the school. In additional an informational booth about recycling was set up at Clamerica and the Seafood Festival. Other recycling related activities include the "Cedar Key Recycles" sign on Hwy 24 when you enter town, the new recycling bin at the Post Office, and efforts to get a recycling trailer in Rosewood (which we hope will happen soon). And, last but not least, we cannot forget the daily volunteer effort to pick up cardboard from businesses around town and tirelessly pack it into the commercial trailer at the CK Recycling Center. CONSERVATION CORNER In late February our first "Conservation Corner" appeared in the local papers and since that time over 30 articles has been written with the intent to raise energy awareness and provide helpful information for day-to-day use. Thanks to the Cedar Key Beacon and the Cedar Key News a special section of each paper has been designated for the Conservation Corner. And our logo is becoming a familiar symbol of our activities. CEDAR KEY SCHOOL Last spring, recycling bins were constructed and put in and around the Cedar Key School. This fall a recycling trailer was dedicated to the school and the Student Government organized a year-long recycling project which includes the America Recycles Challenge, assisted by the EAP, and the upcoming participation of the students in the Cedar Key Art Center`s February "Trash to Treasure" exhibit. The "Recyclables" have been spotted around school several times as mentioned above and will be returning to the cafeteria a lunchtime to help the kids remember to recycle at school and home. SOLAR ENERGY TAPPED Early on in our efforts a compact informational summary was written for the Cedar Key City Commissioners about solar energy, how solar energy and water panels work and what the potential costs and benefits would be in Cedar Key. We encouraged and supported the Cedar Key City Commissioners in their decision to put solar panels on the Community Center which were installed this past summer. In addition there are now 6 homes on the island and one in Rosewood with operating solar panels. GREEN LODGING In May, a workshop was organized to inform owners & managers about the Department of Environmental Protection`s Green Lodging Program. Since that time four business have received Green Lodging certification - Seahorse Landing, Faraway Inn, Park Place and The Island Place (pending final approval). WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM In cooperation with the Central Florida Community Action Agency, brochures about the Federal Home Weatherization Program available to low income families were distributed by EAP volunteers. Assistance in completing the application for FREE home energy conservation upgrades was given to qualified individuals by an EAP volunteer. To date, 12 homes have been accepted for the program and 6 more are very close to being approved. ALTERNATIVES TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Most recently the EAP has focused its efforts on promoting changes in our waste hauling contract (trash and recycling). In cooperation with the City of Cedar Key, a seminar was organized in October to introduce alternatives like unit pricing {Pay-As-You-Throw} and Integrated Yard Waste Management. In November, EAP volunteers surveyed residents to find out what they would like to see in the new waste hauling contract which is up for renewal this May. 245 surveys were completed and it was discovered that a majority of Cedar Key residents thought one day a week trash pickup for households was acceptable (81%) and supported curbside recycling (74%), the establishment of a local yard waste recycling program (80%) and implementation of a unit pricing approach to solid waste (68%). The City of Cedar Key and the City Commissioners are now working diligently on a contract that incorporates these services for residents and businesses. THANK YOU A big thanks goes to our City Government and City Commissioners for their leadership, support and forward thinking. And, of course, these initiatives would not have been possible without the commitment of many volunteers. We purposely did not mention names in this article for fear of missing someone. Thanks to all of you who have donated time and expertise to the Energy Advisory Panels efforts. Finally, thanks to all of our citizens who have done the right thing and are currently recycling. Our recycle tonnage has increased by almost 100%, but as reported in recent articles, we still have a huge "opportunity for improvement." Join us in our mission to help our beautiful island city become a model for energy awareness, conservation and sustainability. | 
