Recycling

I'm sorry y'all. This page should have been updated long ago, but now that it's September, it is really time to get it at least useable. So, here is the slightly useable, but still not very useful version of the recycling page. The information below definitely needs to be updated, but much of it is still applicable. Additionally, there is a newer business in Stillwater dedicated to recycling:

R & E Recycling
7101 S. Perkins Rd.
Stillwater, OK 74074
377-1221

About Stillwater's Recycling Program

This guide (.pdf, 355kb) is published by the Stillwater Recycling Coalition (now Sustainable Stillwater).

Buy Recycled Guidance

This document (.pdf, 277kb) published by americarecyclesday.org. It is very comprehensive -- it debunks myths, describes the symbols, and lists many facts.

Stillwater Community Groups:

Sustainable Stillwater

http://www.stillwater.org/~recycles/sstw.htm

This group grew out of a community backlash to the abrupt cancellation of the municipal recycling program in fall of 2001. At that time, it was known as the Stillwater Recycling Coalition. In late 2003 they moved to become a chapter of the Oklahoma Sustainability Network. More news will be posted as their metamorphosis completes.

Contact Scott Byrd, president of the coalition, at recyclingcoalition@hotmail.com or call 405.372.7570 for more information. Membership in the coalition is $10 a year and they meet once a month at the Wesley Foundation at the corner of University and Washington.

Campus Recycling Coalition

The Campus Recycling Coalition was resurrected in 1991. It was responsible for instituting the initial recycling program on campus during its first incarnation.

Their mission statement is "to educate, promote, coordinate, and facilitate campus-wide programs to implement and maintain recycling efforts at Oklahoma State University."

The meetings are open to everyone, but you will have to call Sarah Kimball (405-744-9827) or visit their web site to find out when they next meet.

The R-Cycle Team

The R-Cycle Team has gone on sabbatical for the fall 2003 semester. Their plans after that are unknown. About the Team:

  1. Contribute the different perspectives of recycling activities from other countries to the OSU campus.
  2. R-Cycle Team, which is composed of 19 international students living in residence halls, was created during the summer 2003 semester.
  3. Members are all volunteers interested in recycling and general environmental issues.
  4. The executive positions consist of: coordinator, two assistant coordinators, secretary, advisor, two web masters, web advisor, and a church recycling leader whose duty is to promote recycling at a church for connecting with the community.

SGA Recycling Committee

The Student Government Association (SGA) formed this committee in the spring of 2002 in order to facilitate recycling on campus. The major focus of that semester was standardizing recycling within residence halls and getting a recycling bin placed on campus.

This committee is currently actively working on some projects. More news will be posted here soon.

Report on Stillwater Recycling

Following are the categories under which HEW has received goods classified
by HEW as recyclable materials.

The weights of items received from 1-1-03 thru 5-31-03 were:

  Item                        Tons
Newspaper                    207.58
8-part recycle trailers       61.74
Aluminum cans                 17.04
Concrete & Dirt                 .16
Glass                         37.01
Loose Waste (Trash)            2.84
Recycle Paper                  9.66
Cardboard tons               196.18 (approx. 99% commercial and
                                           1% residential).

A large percentage of collected materials were contaminated; HEW found it
difficult to estimate a percentage of contaminated materials.  For
instance, all glass that HEW received and forwarded to Dlubac glass
was rejected and taken to a landfill for disposal.

HEW has no ideas on how to quantify the multi-compartment trailers.
(Neither do I...that's a tough one.)

SRC was referred to the City of Stillwater for the most accurate figures
on yard waste.

Physical Plant Recycling Report

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Burnett" <Burnett@pp.okstate.edu>
To: <jennidm@okstate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:31 PM
Subject: Recycle Stats

Here are the best numbers i have
Total amount of solid waste taken to landfill each year - 300,000
tons.

Items recycled: each item is per year

 1. White Paper - 100 tons
 2. motor oil - 2000+ gal
 3. metals of all types - 200 ton
 4. paper oil filters - N/A
 5. tires - 1500+
 6. auto batteries - 500+
 7. office furniture - na
 8. lab equipment - na
 9. lab chemicals - na
10. concrete rubble - na
11. automotive coolants - na
12. CFC's - na

hope this helps you

Mike Burnett
Manager, Grounds Dept
Physical Plant Services
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Ok 74078