Stel Bailey | Investigative Journalist
A Timeline of Promises and Pitfalls
February 25, 1998 — A Proposal Arrives
Waste Management presented Brevard County with a plan: deploy machines, each the size of a small refrigerator, to melt down polystyrene trays. The cost, covering equipment, education, maintenance, transport, and recycling, was estimated at $300,000. The project was marketed as an innovative, environmentally friendly solution.
May–June 1998 — Contracts and Approval
- May 8: A contract for the “Innovative Recycling Project” was drafted.
- May 14: The school board signed the agreement.
- June 10: Waste Management requested written approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to subcontract with Brevard County School Food Services.
- June 22: The FDEP authorized the purchase of the recycling machines.
August 19, 1998 — A Warning
The FDEP issued a letter reminding the county about hazardous waste regulations, an early signal that this project carried significant environmental risk.
October–December 1998 — Grant Funding and Early Implementation
County commissioners reported that the program had received an “innovative grant” and that funds were being spent on the machines. By December, invoices were paid, and schools across the district were listed as participants in the pilot project.
January 1999 — Red Flags
The school board abruptly canceled its contract with the vendor, citing “hazardous conditions,” and requested a stop-payment of $109,582.60. Shortly afterward, the FDEP clarified a critical fact: the recycling machines dissolved polystyrene using tetrachloroethylene, a solvent regulated as hazardous waste.
February 1999 — Site Visit
An environmental specialist visited the facility operated by Central Florida Poly-Recyclers / Plastic Recovery Solutions, the contracted company. Concerns mounted.
December 15, 1999 — Inspection Findings
A damning inspection report concluded the company:
- Failed to notify FDEP about transporting hazardous waste,
- Lacked required liability coverage,
- Did not comply with hazardous waste air emissions standards, and
- Failed to prevent releases of toxic material.
February 17, 2000 — Arrests
After nearly two years of investigations and warnings, law enforcement arrested two company representatives. They faced 26 felony charges for environmental violations tied to the polystyrene recycling program.
Lessons from a Failed Experiment
What began as a groundbreaking environmental initiative turned into a cautionary tale. Brevard County Schools sought to innovate, but oversight gaps and reliance on hazardous chemicals doomed the project. The arrests underscore how poorly vetted “green” solutions can create more harm than good.
The case highlights the importance of due diligence, transparency, and regulatory compliance in environmental programs. For Brevard County, the attempt to recycle polystyrene did not just fail; it left behind a legacy of legal trouble and environmental risk.
Source: Documentation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, available at DEP Nexus
Tetrachloroethylene was spilled at Surfside Elementary School.