We live in a time when our values and our actions do not always align, especially when it comes to sustainability. Nationally, it is estimated that 75 percent of the American waste stream is recyclable, yet only about 30 percent is actually recycled. Here in Collier County, which includes the City of Naples, we are proud to have achieved a 75 percent recycling rate in 2021, one of only five counties in Florida to reach this milestone, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This success reflects a robust residential recycling program and award-winning initiatives like foam recycling.
To me, sustainability is not just an environmental concern. It is a civic one.
Sustainability is not a trend or a marketing term. It is a civic mindset grounded in stewardship, accountability, and community. When we allow sustainability to become symbolic, something left to packaging engineers or labeled products, we miss the opportunity to strengthen our civic culture. We trade meaningful participation for performative virtue.
But there is a better path forward, and we have the tools to walk it.
Policy measures like Extended Producer Responsibility laws, which hold manufacturers accountable for the full lifecycle of their products, are promising. Yet laws alone are not enough. True change begins with us, with residents, neighbors, and families who commit to making small but consistent contributions to the greater good.
Imagine if every household in Naples made just one more environmentally conscious decision each week. Small efforts, multiplied across a community, can lead to real and lasting impact.
Are you composting food scraps or yard waste instead of sending them to the landfill? Reusing household items instead of discarding them? Avoiding single use plastics or switching to reusable containers and bottles? Participating in local cleanup efforts or helping protect our beaches and waterways? Choosing to bike or walk to nearby destinations instead of driving?
This is not about regulation for its own sake. It is about reweaving the social fabric. It is about building a culture in which we are not just consumers, but citizens, people who take responsibility for the communities we love.
Here in Naples, where our natural beauty and quality of life are central to who we are, we have an opportunity to lead by example.
And we are leading.
The City of Naples has taken significant steps to embed sustainability and resilience into our operations and long-term planning:
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We adopted a Multi Basin Stormwater Master Plan in March 2024, designed to improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and modernize critical infrastructure.
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The 2024 to 2029 Capital Improvement Plan, approved in October 2023, prioritizes investments in climate resilient infrastructure such as seawalls, drainage systems, and expanded green public spaces.
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Naples secured 35.5 million dollars in state appropriations in alignment with our legislative priorities, including substantial funding for water quality and flood mitigation projects.
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We launched the design phase for Basin IV stormwater improvements, vital projects for shoreline protection and community safety.
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Beach renourishment efforts, including the full restoration of Park Shore Beach in April 2025, help protect fragile coastal ecosystems and guard against erosion.
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Through focused conservation, we permanently preserved 104 acres of coastal land through the Naples Beach Club conservation easement, recorded in October 2024.
These are not just projects. They are expressions of our core values in action.
Shared responsibility, especially around something as tangible as waste, can be a powerful unifier. It reminds us that our actions matter, and that together, we can protect what makes Naples special.
Let us move beyond aspiration and into action, one household, one habit, one week at a time.
