Orange County is considering new regulations concerning the application of fertilizer.  These regulations are part of continuing efforts to protect our valuable lakes and streams from receiving excessive amounts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus - the two leading pollutants in our county waters.

A public workshop will be held to discuss the Proposed Fertilizer Ordinance (PDF - 46KB).

date: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
time: 1 - 2 PM
address: Environmental Protection Division offices
              800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4
              Orlando, FL 32808
              (407) 836-1400

To RSVP for the workshop or to submit comments or question, contact Alan Marshall at alan.marshall@ocfl.net or via mail at the address above.

Looking for a new way to go green and save more money?  Check out Orange County's new solar incentive program for residential and commercial properties.

Thanks to our Solar Workshop partners!  View the presentations given at the workshops and the sponsors who made it all possible. 

Orange County has been certified a Green Local Government at the Gold level by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) - the first municipality in Florida to receive the certification at the gold level! 

Learn how the County is going from Orange to Green and how you can help.

• Orange to Green Development Program for sustainable development
• Orange County's Florida Friendly Landscaping Demonstration Garden and environmental landscaping tips
• EPD's Environmental Policy (PDF - 914KB)
• Mayor Richard T. Crotty announced Orange County Government's Climate Change Plan at the Climate Change Summit, marking the beginning of a strategy to place Orange County in the forefront of the worldwide movement to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Happy New Year!  Have you made your Environmental New Year's Resolution?  How about planting a tree for Florida's Arbor Day on January 16th?  Visit EPA's Greenversations (External Site) for more ideas.    

January 10 • Saturday • Neighborhood Beautification Community Connections Workshop (PDF - 130KB) • 9 AM - 12 noon • Orlando Regional History Center

January 15 • Thursday • CFAEP meeting (Central Florida Association of Environmental Professionals) • 11:30 AM - 1 PM • Topic: Air Quality Management in Orange County • Orange County Supervisor of Elections office • 119 W Kaley Avenue, Orlando, 32806 • Reservations required by Monday, January 12th • RSVP to Bridget Tolley at 407-858-6100 x3806 or btolley@sjrwmd.gov

January 16 • Friday • Florida Arbor Day (External Site)

January 17 • Saturday • Air Potato Vine Pull - volunteers needed! • 8:30 AM - 12 noon • Trimble Park • 5802 Trimble Park Road, Mt Dora, 32757 • The air potato vine is an invasive plant taking over this park.  If we are able to remove the vines before they spread by the end of summer we can help solve this problem • Community Service Hours available. • Contact Watershed Action Volunteers at WAVorange@sjrwmd.com or (407) 836-1430 

January 18-24 • Monday-Saturday • Hazardous Materials Awareness Week

January 21 • Wednesday • Public Workshop for Proposed Fertilizer Ordinance (PDF - 48KB) • 1 - 2 PM • EPD offices, 800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4, Orlando, 32808 • to RSVP for the workshop, or for questions or comments on the proposed ordinance, contact Alan Marshall at alan.marshall@ocfl.net or the address above

January 22 • Thursday • Central Florida Lake Management Society Winter Workshop (PDF - 70K) • 9 AM - 3 PM  • Orange County Cooperative Extension • 6021 S Conway Road, 32812 •  For more information or to RSVP e-mail ron.novy@ocfl.net

January 24 • Saturday • Household Hazardous Waste & Electronic Waste Community Collection Event (PDF - 260KB) • 8 AM - 3 PM • E Orange County Service Center • 12050 E Colonial Drive • (407) 836-6601 or www.ocfl.net/utilities

February 7 • Saturday • Eco-Nomic Living Expo (PDF - 248KB) • 10 AM - 2 PM • Orange County Cooperative Extension • 6021 S Conway Road, 32812 • (407) 254-9200

February 7 • Saturday • Orlando Wetlands Festival (PDF - 1MB) • 9 AM - 3 PM • Fort Christmas Historical Park • 1300 N Fort Christmas Road, Christmas • (407) 568-1706 or (407) 246-2213

Saturdays • Streetscapes Adopt-a-Tree (External Site) • 8 AM - 12 noon • Orange County residents can get 2 free trees • call Orange County Cooperative Extension for more info • (407) 254-9200 • first come, first served, so arrive early

• January 10 • Bear Creek Park (District 4)
• February 28 • Fort Christmas Historical Park (District 5)

Orange County Parks are clean, green, fun! 

• ECOSaturdays (PDF - 309KB) • FREE! • 10 AM  • Tibet-Butler Preserve • (407) 876-6696 
  • January 24 • Worms Eat Your Garbage!
  • January 31 • Ecosystem Hike
  • February 21 • Animal Tracks
• Discover environmental programs at other Orange County parks.

EPA Guide to Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Strategies and Practices (PDF - 771KB)

On February 15, 2008, Orange County hosted a Low Impact Development (LID) Workshop provided by St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) (External Site), FDEP and University of Florida (UF)/IFAS Extension.  Presentations from the workshop can be downloaded below in PDF format.

800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4
Orlando, FL 32808
Phone: (407) 836-1400
Fax: (407) 836-1499

The mission of the Environmental Protection Division is "serving the community by protecting the environment through education, participation, and conservation."