Recycling Director Christy Reed has spent the majority of her life in Highlands County . A graduate of Sebring High School , Christy attended South Florida Community College and was later awarded her Associates Degree from Jones College in Orlando .

With more than 30 years of state and county employment, Christy has a vast knowledge of county procedure and is an asset to the board. She has worked for the Road and Bridge Department as a parts expediter and in the Purchasing Department as a buyer. Prior to her tenure with the board, she worked for the Sheriff’s Office and the Tax Collector’s Office.

With the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act, Highlands County created the Recycling Coordinator position and Christy applied and was chosen to be the county’s first Recycling Coordinator in February of 1990.

Her immediate challenge was to create a recycling program and educate the public on the importance of recycling. The first recycling bin was issued in September of 1990.  Using recycling grant funds to purchase more bins and equipment, recycling bins were soon placed at shopping malls, plazas, mobile home parks and businesses. 

Under her leadership, the voluntary recycling program has flourished and now Christy needs the help of five full time staff to manage the program. The recycling program produces enough processed materials to generate over $100,000 each year to help support itself.

Christy is also responsible for developing the Household Hazardous Waste Program.  Using a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, she oversaw the construction of the hazardous waste storage facility.  She organized and held the first household hazardous waste collection in June of 1990. Now, two scheduled collections are held in the spring and fall of each year and she also conducts several collections for surrounding counties, which secures funding to subsidize our own collections.

Christy lives in Lorida and is very active in her local church.  She enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, listening to music and SCUBA diving.