Oklahoma and recycling

[HoneySuckle]

So Earth Day is coming and we actually get to see some ads and suggestions for recycling.  Take a look a HD's ad for example.  But what bugs me no end is that it seems to be about recycling or being aware for a day or so and then it's back to the usual wasteful, lazy Oakie attitude.  Let someone else worry about how to recycle...that's what a neighbour said to me today.  

She still thinks it's okay to dump her meds down the toilet bowl![!]

[sgrizzle]

It makes for good hermaphroditic fish, which would make a great B movie on the sci-fi channel.

I bought some recyclin sorting bins from westlake (which I had to special order to get) and the manager at the store said "I should buy some of those. I moved here from california and we recycled all the time out there, but never even realized it was an option in oklahoma" so I had to explain to the ex-recycler twice my age how the whole process worked.

There are several green-er stores like wold oats/whole foods and the newly opened baby store in brookside, but there isn't really a green version of home depot. If you want recycling bins, composting bins, or supplies for any of thoe above, you generally have to hit up the old internet and have the big brown diesel bring it to you.

On an unrelated rant, I'm surprised that if you buy a "recycling themed" shirt it's generally printed on new bleached cotton and polyester.

[RecycleMichael]

I am in favor of this thing called "recycling".

I also feel partly responsible for part of the attitude you see in Oklahomans. Part of my job is to change that.

What steps would you recommend to convince more Oklahomans to become environmentally aware?

[sgrizzle]

We could get a new recycling mascot:

[safetyguy]

My family personally recycles ( I just took our load to the Jenks drop off yesterday as a matter of fact!)

One of the ways that I was able to "sell" the recycling concept to my wife I said that it would save space in the trash can. There are many weeks I ask myself what we would do if we didn't recycle (probably have to pay for another trash bin and we are just a family of 3!)I think if OK was like a lot of east coast cities and made people pay by the pound to dispose of general waste they would be more inclined to do it. There are also a lot of municipalities that require recycling.

RM- Maybe some PSA's (maybe have a competition between the different universities/high schools in town to create the PSA campaigns). I know Earth Day has really raised this awareness for the week, so maybe more awareness throughout the year on the benefits of recycling, what the environmental impact is on the choices that people make, etc.

I watched Wa$ted last night on TLC. It was pretty interesting. It was more than just about recycling, but it talked about overall environmental impact and how you can save money.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael


What steps would you recommend to convince more Oklahomans to become environmentally aware?

Painful truth:  make is easier or make it pay.

In Iowa, cans and bottles have a deposit on them.  Most took care to recycle them.  Bums and college kids actively collected them.  It was rare to see a beer bottle or a squished can in the street.

Since I was saving cans/bottles for recycling, I had a collection pile.  So it was easy to put newspapers and steel cans next to it.  Then why not plastic bags and milk jugs.

Now, all I really recycle is newspaper because it is just down the street from me.  I'm too lazy to sort, store, and haul recycling materials.  A free program for the city to pick it up would be best, a can deposit would work well to (obtrusive I understand).

I'll work on it, but if you want the reason I don't recycle more (and I suspect others if they were honest) is that I'm lazy.  Not that I don't care, just apperently don't care enough.  [B)]

[edit]the punish angle would work too:  city provided cans and anything more you pay.  Of course, that leads to illegal dumping in ditches and theft of other people's space... but it could be a motivator.[/edit]

[Conan71]

I just hope we can make it through Earth Day this year without Algore hi-jacking it

[HoneySuckle]

We recycle newspapers (have to collect them and carry it to the center), and I have been trying to figure out where to take the bottles and plastics.  I have a collection of them and on the bottles themselves there is the word "recycle" but why the hell doesn't Oklahoma have easier ways instead of having to drive somewhere to deposit them?

While we were in England last time, the place we stayed at (apartment) told us about recycling.  There was a bin for general stuff, then one for papers, one for plastics, one for glass etc.  My kids thought that was cool.  Then you put out the various containers and they are picked up.

We're so damn backward in this part of the country.[!]

[RecycleMichael]

Here is a list of locations that take almost everything and are open 24 hours a day.

http://www.metrecycle.com/depots.htm

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

We recycle newspapers (have to collect them and carry it to the center), and I have been trying to figure out where to take the bottles and plastics.  I have a collection of them and on the bottles themselves there is the word "recycle" but why the hell doesn't Oklahoma have easier ways instead of having to drive somewhere to deposit them?

While we were in England last time, the place we stayed at (apartment) told us about recycling.  There was a bin for general stuff, then one for papers, one for plastics, one for glass etc.  My kids thought that was cool.  Then you put out the various containers and they are picked up.

We're so damn backward in this part of the country.[!]

RM is better-suited to explain why we are slower on getting convenient recycling around these parts.  

A couple of guesses on my part is there's likely never been as much of a hurry as we have an image of plenty of open land to use for land-fills, versus NYC where disposal is much more of a problem.

I believe the other part is our population numbers not being high enough to easily afford a more convenient recycling program.

The pilot trash/recycling program is tantalizingly close to my house, but still not there.  I keep putting off buying new trash cans thinking sooner, rather than later it'll cross over 15th into my neighborhood.

I can certainly understand your frustration, but I do think a pat on the back is in order for the job MET does for this area, they do a very good job with the resources they have.

[TheTed]

I've lived in a lot of apartments and none of them had recycling. I'm not sure why we can't require apartment complexes of a certain size to have big recycling bins next to the dumpster.

Also, I'm a big believer in bottle/can deposits. Visiting Michigan as a kid I got lots of spending money picking up cans/bottles and taking them in for the 10 cent deposit.

It's ridiculous that most of those deposit prices were set decades ago and haven't changed with inflation. They should be at least a quarter. A nickel is hardly worth the effort.

I can't really see any reason why we wouldn't want deposits in every state. There's no way all of those deposits get claimed, and the less cans/bottles that are turned in just means more money for the state.

We'd have less litter, more recycling and more money to fund recycling/environmental programs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_deposit_legislation

[RecycleMichael]

We are trying to get deposit laws back. I was part of an effort to get the legislature to consider it again this year.

The beverage industry is more powerful than the environmental industry in Oklahoma, so we keep losing.

[tulsa1603]

In Austin, you get a small trash can and a recycling bin.  You have more trash than fits in the can, you have to buy special bags for them to pick it up.  People down there get very upset if you put a recyclable in the trash!  AND, their recycling is free and it doesn't have to be sorted, just dump it all in the bin, they pick it up.  If it was that easy here, I don't know why anyone wouldn't do it?  I don't recycle, but probably should start.  I need to figure out a proper way to store it all in my house, since my garage is detached.

[joiei]

I lived in Oregon in the early 80's where we paid bottle and can deposits.  It didn't take long to get the hang of it, especially when you returned the bottles and cans and got back 5 cents for each one.  It wasn't a pain in the rear, you just kept them near the door and when you headed to the store, you took your cans.  Many times, that refund paid for what I ran into the store for.  

It is a pain to do only if you haven't done it.  When I moved from Oregon to Florida, it took me almost a year to stop saving the bottles and cans.  Easy habit to get into, hard habit to break.  Plus, there were no cans/bottles along the roadside.  

I completely support bottle and can deposits.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

We are trying to get deposit laws back. I was part of an effort to get the legislature to consider it again this year.

The beverage industry is more powerful than the environmental industry in Oklahoma, so we keep losing.

Sell it as a state profit issue.  Cost of the program - deposits not returns = profit for the state.  The established states have the formula down and eek out a small profit after paying for the program, if you consider the savings in city/roadway cleanup as well as sewer clearing they could be significant.

But, having seen the 3 tier beverage distribution system in action, I'm afraid I feel your pain.