Helping Hands: Calvin Warren

Name: Calvin Warren

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Title: Community Services Supervisor

How long have you been working here?
“I applied with Solid Waste 13 years ago. Then I transferred to Public Works for 10 years, then I transferred back to this department as the supervisor 3 ½ years ago.”

What do you like about this position?
“No two days are alike. It’s very interesting dealing with the public, the city officials and the workers in the department. The dynamics change hour by hour. Plus I interact with all the other cities regularly.

I’m on the Pinellas Partners in Recycling sub-committee. We meet and discuss where we’ve had problems and try to help each other out with ideas and solutions. The state is working to recycle 75% of waste by 2025 and this area is at about 28% right now.

With this being a transient area, some people come from other states and want to do more recycling. We’re really trying to push that forward. We actually just finished installing recycling cans next to every trash can along Indian Rocks Beach.”

What keeps you interested in the job and the committee?
“The solid waste industry, and especially the recycling segment, is ever changing. It’s growing more and more technical. And you have to really stay up with the game.”

What do you like about the beaches?
“The beach itself is beautiful. Working just a couple of steps away from the beach is good stuff. I always wanted to live in Florida. The first time I came to Florida on vacation I knew I wanted to live here.”

What can the public do to help?
“Ask questions. There’s always parts of the trash and recycling system that they can learn something about. All they need to do is call the city and ask and we’re happy to give them all the information they need to make sure we’re all doing as much as we can.”