February 2011 NewsletterNewsletter Welcome to the OKRA online newsletter. Please feel free to share our newsletter with anyone who might enjoy reading it. To receive electronic notifi- cation of newsletter availability and general recy- cling announcements, sign-up for the OKRA list server on our website: www.recycleok.org Sooner State Steps Up to Recycle Aluminum The following Schools have signed up for the Great Latta 4-H, Latta School, Ada, OK American Can Roundup School Recycling Challenge. These Latta High School, Ada OK schools are competing to recycle the most aluminum beverage Lee Elementary School, Tulsa OK cans per capita between America Recycles Day 2010 and Earth McLain Magnet High School, Tulsa OK Day 2011. Winners will be announced in May. Go Oklahoma! , Norman OK

Plainview Intermediate, Ardmore OK Ada High School, Ada OK , , OK Brockland Elementary School, Lawton OK Riverfield Country Day School, Tulsa OK Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa OK Rollingwood Elementary, Oklahoma City OK Byng Cosmetology, Ada OK Sacred Heart Catholic School, El Reno OK Cherokee Elementary, Catoosa OK Sapulpa Jr. High, Sapulpa OK Day Care/Before & After School Programs, Beggs OK Skyline Elementary School, Stillwater OK Deer Creek High School, Edmond OK Sterling School, Sterling OK , Del City OK Sulphur High School, Sulphur OK Eliot Elementary, Tulsa OK The Recycling Kids, Elementary, Claremore OK Inola Middle School, Inola OK Tulsa Memorial High Jackson Elementary, Norman OK School, Tulsa OK Jackson Middle School, Oklahoma City OK

Jay Upper Elementary School, Jay OK For more information about Jefferson Middle School, Oklahoma City OK the program, which is spon- Jenks East Elementary School, Tulsa OK sored by the Can Manufac- John Glenn Elementary, Oklahoma City OK turer’s Institute, visit Jones Academy Elementary School, Hartshorne OK www.cancentral.com/ Key Club, Yukon OK RoundUp

Tulsa’s Curbside Recycling Expands!

Recently Tulsa added tin and metal food cans to its Officials estimate that the new service will divert over curbside recycling program. Thanks to a machine that 10,000 pounds of tin and steel food cans (such as utilizes magnets to sort the recyclables, Greenstar Re- those packaging tuna, soups, fruits and vegetables, cycling is able to easily process the cans along with the etc.) from area landfills. other recyclables, and they approached the City of Tulsa with the idea of including them in the curbside Tulsa residents that wish to recycle their tin and metal program. Prior to the change, the cans were thrown cans should ensure they are thoroughly rinsed prior to out with the garbage and incinerated. placing them in the recycling bins.

Blackwell Information Center is Certified Silver!

Visitors to Oklahoma can expect a greener welcome own reusable coffee mugs to take refreshments on the since the Blackwell Tourism Information Center joined road. forces with Encouraging Conservation in Okla- homa (ECO). The center, which is in the process of According to Skaggs, a future goal of achieving certification through ECO, made a the Blackwell staff is to inspire other commitment to sustainability with a detailed re- tourism information centers across the cycling program and a goal to reduce overall state to make a similar commitment waste. to sustainability. Their focus on conser- vation provides an example for other Since the information center greets travelers every community members to follow. day, the staff decided to create a comprehensive recycling program that includes outdated maga- Since 2009, the Oklahoma Tourism & zines and brochures, aluminum, plastic and card- Recreation Department and Depart- board. Recycling centers in Tonkawa and Ponca ment of Environmental Quality’s ECO City serve Blackwell’s recycling needs. According Certification program has promoted, to Janelle Skaggs, manager of the Blackwell Tour- developed and encouraged sustain- ism Information Center, recycling such a large Janelle Skaggs recycles able tourism throughout the state. number of items has been a challenge, resulting in cardboard at the Blackwell ECO Certification requires applicants many trips to each recycling facility each month. Information Center to meet set criteria and be reviewed by a national certification board. A The center cuts down on unnecessary waste by reducing certification level of silver, gold or platinum can be the number of brochures and magazines ordered each awarded, based on the level of sustainable practices the month. Another green focus is reducing the number of applicant chooses to implement. coffee cups used by encouraging visitors to bring their By Kaylee McDaniel OMR Announces Groundbreaking at Atoka, OK Oklahoma Materials Recycling (OMR), LLC announces the stimulus program, and incentive from Oklahoma State Tax ground breaking for its molybdenum oxide recycling plant in Credit. The total investment in the project will be approxi- Atoka, OK. This plant will process spent catalyst from the mately $19 million and will initially create more than 35 new oil refinery industry and recover molybdenum oxide used as jobs. The plant is expected to be completed by the second an additive in the steel industry for stainless steel and other quarter of 2011. Oklahoma Material Recycling chose Atoka steel alloys. This new plant in the Atoka City Industrial Park because of its strategic location, availability of existing was achieved through partnership with the Atoka Economic buildings, abundant workforce and other incentives avail- Development Authority, assistance from the US Depart- able by locating in Oklahoma. (9 July 2010) ment of Agriculture by providing guarantees under the Caught in the Act!! Volunteers sort recyclables at the 2010 Lake Overholser/Stinchcomb Refuge Cleanup Look like fun?

This year’s clean-up is scheduled for April 23rd

Contact Karen Miles, (405) 702-8192 [email protected] If you catch someone in the act, send a photo to [email protected] and we for more details and to will post it in our next OKRA newsletter! volunteer OKRA Newsletter February 2011 - Page 2 Feel Like UNBOXING? By Barbara VanHanken

Tulsa’s first Unboxing Days event took place during the Harley Hollan is the owner of Harley Hollan Companies 12 days following Christmas Day. who distribute blue roll-off containers at construction sites to collect all the construction debris. They return to his This came about when I was getting ready for the day company site where this debris is recycled. He collects following Thanksgiving. I was thinking about “what could bales of cardboard and has a very special machine that the city do during the holiday season to really be densifies the pieces of Styrofoam into 4-5” wide tubes of GREEN!” Hummm. Then I heavy material which is then shipped back to recalled last Christmas China where it came from. China then proc- when my family, being very esses this material back into white Styrofoam helpful as usual, pitched in that they pack around your next electronic to clean up all the Christ- purchase. The cardboard is packed into large mas boxes and wrappings. bales that weigh a ton each. These are taken I did manage to save a few to a company in NE Oklahoma to be reproc- ribbons and decorated gift essed into renewed cardboard. bags, but the rest was al- ready in plastic trash bags It was so exciting seeing the first cars and and going outside to wait pickups drive through leaving their load with for the trash pickup. I had us. Everyone was so grateful to have this mixed emotions about the Tulsa Master Recyclers- Peggy Pianalto, Barbara opportunity to be a good citizen and keep clean-up, but it was done. VanHanken, Pam Robinson, Beth Turner and their trash out of the landfill. Many people Becky Bowles. wanted to know where they could do this at I decided it would be great if we could recycle all those other times of the year. cardboard gift boxes from homes across the city. My Some Trash Trivia - next move was brilliant, as it turned out. I called Michael The GOOD NEWS: things that weigh a ton Patton, Tulsa’s “Mr. Recycle” who is director of The Met- ropolitan Environmental Trust. Michael loved my idea After 12 days we collected: VW Beetle and jumped into action like a Green SuperHero. Killer Whale 28,000 pounds, or 28 The following week we had our first meeting with Michael, bales, or 14 tons of card- 1 Cubic Meter of Water MET public relations Daniel Jeffries, myself, my fellow board 1 Cubic Yard of Top Soil Tulsa Master Recycler Beth Turner, Harley Hollan, owner 2,000 pounds, or 1 ton of of Harley Hollan Companies and one of his employees, compacted Styrofoam 8 Adult Panda Bears Nick Greigo. That was all it took. Michael had an event We had 700 cars and 400 Rabbits logo design, event website and was directing all the press pickups bring their card- exposure we needed to make this a success. board and Styrofoam. 3 Adult Male Grizzly Bears

left: Entrance to Unboxing Days We consider this a huge success for everyone below: Unloading cardboard and foam involved and the City of Tulsa!

In fact, Harley Hollan decided to continue receiving both cardboard and Styrofoam from the public dur- ing business hours all year long.

The Tulsa Master Recyclers and Harley Hollan employ- ees worked on a daily schedule to man the recy- cling of not only cardboard, but also Styrofoam from the packing material in electronic gifts. We did collect lots of big screen boxes with the Styrofoam.

Bales of Cardboard

OKRA Newsletter February 2011 - Page 3 SAVE THE DATE!

The 2011 Oklahoma Recycling Seminar will be held on Thursday, October 13 at the OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater. If you’d like to serve on the planning committee, please email [email protected].

Nearly 150 participants attended the 2010 Oklahoma Recycling Seminar held in Stillwater

About a dozen exhibitors shared information with participants

There were many opportunities to network and exchange information

Make plans now to join us October 13, 2011

OKRA Newsletter February 2011 - Page 4

For more Recycling/Earth Day events see OKRA website at www.recycleok.org at website OKRA see events Day Recycling/Earth more For 5 Page - 2010 September Newsletter OKRA

certified) (CLEET [email protected]

Environmental Law Enforcement Training Training Enforcement Law Environmental 28 April 9806, 9806, - 744 - 405 Hershey, Ilda OK Stillwater,

[email protected] OKC Drive, Overholser East Cleanup

Overholser Pavillion, NW 14th and and 14th NW Pavillion, Overholser Refuge Overholser/Stinchcomb Lake 23 April 8192 or or 8192 - 734 - 405 Miles, Karen

openenrollment/conferences/

Sustainable Enterprise Conference Enterprise Sustainable 20 April http://spears.okstate.edu/cepd/ OK Tulsa Hotel, Renaissance

[email protected] 1:00pm - 11:30am

www.facebook.com/osuokc.gogreen Fair Day Earth OKC - OSU 21 April 9150 9150 - 945 - 405 Sawyer, Scott

[email protected] OK Edmond 3:00pm - 10:00am

West & north side of Broncho Lake, Lake, Broncho of side north & West Day Earth (UCO) OK Central of University 20 April 5772 - 974 - 405 Bass, David

Expo, 11am Expo, 9105 - 919 - 405 Hills Nichols Lane, Sherwood 4:30pm -

First Church of Christ Science, 1203 1203 Science, Christ of Church First ECO Living Sustainable Hills Nichols Planet 16 April [email protected] Herzel, Nancy

Campus 3:00pm - 9:00am

EcoFest College Community Tulsa 26 March http://www.tulsacc.edu/tulsaachieves Northeast College Community Tulsa

bus.com, - sherry.greathouse@cn

Symposium 2011 SWANA 10 – 8 March Sherry Greathouse, Greathouse, Sherry OK Catoosa Casino, & Hotel Rock Hard

EVENT DATE CONTACT LOCATION

OKRA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEB EVENTS OF CALENDAR OKRA 2011 APR -

classroom. classroom.

.. from Resource Recycling Magazine Recycling Resource from

products and return it to the company to receive a gift card for the the for card gift a receive to company the to it return and products

cling. Participants can fill up the box with a variety of recyclable recyclable of variety a with box the up fill can Participants cling.

recycling box and a complete curriculum on the benefits of recy- of benefits the on curriculum complete a and box recycling

http://www.myschoolrecycles.com/ < gram > and receive a special special a receive and >

classrooms or entire schools for Office Depot's Recycling Rules pro- Rules Recycling Depot's Office for schools entire or classrooms

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program. recycling a maintain and/or Custodians are great about breaking down cardboard boxes boxes cardboard down breaking about great are Custodians

lunch. after containers cling schools will help give other schools ideas on how to start start to how on ideas schools other give help will schools

sends her students on a daily basis to empty cafeteria recy- cafeteria empty to basis daily a on students her sends to benefit the recycling program. We hope these featured featured these hope We program. recycling the benefit to

One of the special education teachers with a work program program work a with teachers education special the of One

letter issues (three annually), your school will receive $100 $100 receive will school your annually), (three issues letter

fashion. timely a in emptied is box recycling teacher’s their

. If selected for one of our news- our of one for selected If . [email protected]

teacher. They make sure sure make They teacher. - a - adopt each students Club SUN

School”, please submit your recycling story to to story recycling your submit please School”,

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way.” positive a in generations are properly recycled is wonderful. I can't think what our public public our what think can't I wonderful. is recycled properly are

setting, we are learning to make changes that will effect future future effect will that changes make to learning are we setting, are used everyday, and having a way to make sure they they sure make to way a having and everyday, used are that

will choose to live by. By teaching about recycling in recycling about teaching By by. live to choose will a school school a amounts of paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum cans cans aluminum and plastic cardboard, paper, of amounts

lives where we start to develop the habits and principals that we we that principals and habits the develop to start we where lives schools is a vital concept. I can't help but notice the massive massive the notice but help can't I concept. vital a is schools

in high school is a crucial turning point in many young people's people's young many in point turning crucial a is school high in ling recently commented, “Having a recycling program in in program recycling a “Having commented, recently ling

spreads awareness and helps the environment. Being a student student a Being environment. the helps and awareness spreads year Sun Club member J.T. Dar- J.T. member Club Sun year - Three donations. teacher and

as well, “Recycling is important in high school because it it because school high in important is “Recycling well, as difference made up by private citizen donations, club member member club donations, citizen private by up made difference

Sun Club member Lacey Lyles shared her perspective with us us with perspective her shared Lyles Lacey member Club Sun approximately 90% of their yearly monthly service fee, with the the with fee, service monthly yearly their of 90% approximately

sourced to Waste Management. The membership fee covers covers fee membership The Management. Waste to sourced

Consolidated. - Abitibi up service out- service up - pick with school, the for recycling cardboard

recycling program that is operated as a free service through through service free a as operated is that program recycling bership fee of $5.00 per year is used for plastic, aluminum, and and aluminum, plastic, for used is year per $5.00 of fee bership

Edmond North also subscribes to the Paper Retriever paper paper Retriever Paper the to subscribes also North Edmond Nature) is an environmental service oriented club. The mem- The club. oriented service environmental an is Nature)

and placing them in the recycling dumpster. dumpster. recycling the in them placing and for United (Students Club Sun School’s High North Edmond

Edmond North High School High North Edmond

#1 Program Recycling School Featured Attention Students, Teachers and Artists-at- Heart This year and the Green Initiatives 2. The Chickasaw Nation is giving away Lazer Zone passes Committee are hosting a "recycled art" contest on April 21st to every K-12 participant. in conjunction with other Earth Day activities. 3. And, one lucky artist will receive a honey-cured ham! Five champion awards will be given! In addition… For contest rules and entry forms, contact Theresa 1. The Ada Recycling Coalition will award $100 to one stu- Hammons, [email protected] or Trudy Nev- dent in elementary, Jr. High and High School land, [email protected]. We Need You to Grow OKRA!

Please renew your membership now for 2011 if How to join or renew your membership in 2011: you haven’t already done so (see the list of 2011 members below to determine if you are current). Via mail - send a completed membership bro- OKRA membership runs on the calendar year. chureand your check by mail to OKRA, PO Box 521154, Tulsa, OK 74152-1154. If you are not an OKRA member, please consider joining. To learn about membership levels and Via Internet - go to www.recycleok.org/join- member benefit details, such as discounts to OKRA us.php and access the online membership form events, download our membership brochure: toward the bottom of the page. You then have a www.recycleok.org/pdf/BrochureWebsite.pdf choice of paying online via PayPal or by mail (send your check to the PO Box above). 2011 OKRA Members Platinum Corporate Member Carole Garner K-12 Recycling Coordinator Member America Waste Control Gaylene Hargrove Robin Willmon Ilda Hershey Bronze Corporate Member Debbie Hickman Membership Pledges CSI Recycling Mark Jensen (The following have made membership pledges for Sarah Kimball 2011, however, payments had not been processed Corporate Members Eric Lee by the time this newsletter went to press) AbiBow Recycling LLC Trudi Logan Adrite - BigBelly. Phil Lorenz Amazon Environmental Cornerstone Metals Francie Martin Jim Bologna Natural Evolution, Inc. Melody Martin Larry Burrow Northern Oklahoma Metals Rick Miller Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Kathy Moore Chris Daniels Non-Profit/Government Partners Michael Patton Verona Deer City of Muskogee Mary Peck Chris Feeney City of Weatherford Carol Preston Kurtis Gare OEMA Fenton Rood Angela Heim Power Shop, Inc. Susie Shields OGE Energy Corp Tulsa Automatic Music Kristi Shreve Pam O’Halloran Tulsa Master Recyclers Lena Sullivan Solid Waste Institute of No. OK Woodward TCB Wade Thomson Darren Stefanek Larry Wright Teresa Swoyer Regular Members Tahlequah Recycyling Matt Albright Student Member Bob Baxter Lauren McClaflin Stuart Burchett If you notice any errors or have Ellen Bussert questions about your 2011 mem- Jim Curtiss bership status, please email Pamela Curtis [email protected] Wesley Dedmon Brian Figgins OKRA Newsletter February 2011 - Page 6