Paving the way to a greener future by recycling right
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has declared Wednesday, Nov. 15, as “America Recycles Day.” This proclamation marks the beginning of a month-long educational campaign aimed at encouraging residents to embrace responsible recycling practices.
At the heart of this campaign is the drive to promote the concept of “recycling right,” urging residents to only recycle items accepted in the City’s residential curbside recycling program. By doing so, the city can significantly reduce the volume of reusable waste ending up in landfills. With an average satisfaction rate of 83.6% among residents surveyed annually since its launch in 2018, the City’s Big Green recycling cart program has been pivotal in shaping Oklahoma City’s recycling landscape.
However, the City has experienced issues with recycling contamination. Items such as plastic bags, food and liquid residues, yard waste and certain household items often find their way into recycling bins, causing disruptions in the sorting process and leading to increased costs for the recycling program. To address these issues, the City has rolled out extensive outreach efforts, including community events, direct mail campaigns and social media initiatives, all geared towards promoting the “recycle right” message.
A crucial aspect of the campaign is educating residents about what can and cannot be recycled. Proper recycling etiquette includes placing recyclables loosely in the Big Green recycling cart, rinsing cans, jars and bottles before disposal and avoiding the use of plastic bags. Aiming to demystify the recycling process, the City will host a live question-and-answer session on its Facebook page on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., allowing residents to clarify their recycling queries.
In addition to curbside recycling, Oklahoma City offers three drop-off recycling centers, catering to residents not covered by the curbside collection program. These centers accept various recyclables, including household and office paper, clean cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, glass bottles and jars (excluding the NW 4th location), aluminum and steel cans, and milk and juice cartons. Residents need to deposit these items without using plastic bags.
The City has taken proactive steps to address household hazardous waste, providing a safe disposal option for items such as paints, stains, varnishes, cleaners, batteries and automotive products. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, located at 1621 S Portland Ave, offers residents a chance to dispose of these items in an environmentally responsible manner, free of charge. A City water bill is required for access.
Residents of The Village, Yukon, Tinker Air Force Base, Shawnee, El Reno, Edmond, Bethany, Warr Acres and Moore can recycle their waste at the facility but may be charged for the service through their municipality.
To learn more about recycling, visit Oklahoma City’s website.
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