News
Recycling
The Tulsa Authority for Recovery of Energy (TARE) recently funded a study on trash collection. Currently the city provides once a week pick up for 22,000 homes in Northwest Tulsa, with Tulsa Refuse, Inc. (a private company) serving 95,500 homes in the rest of the city twice a week. Recycling is offered on a limited basis with an extra fee of about $2 per month; less than 10 percent of Tulsans pay for curbside recycling. The study suggests that customers have little incentive to recycle because trash pickup is unlimited; an average of 55 pounds of garbage per household is set out for collection each week.
The report recommends once-a-week trash service, using city-owned carts and a mandatory recycling program to take place by January 1, 2012. But before that plan can take place, the city would have to find service providers, figure out how to provide the service and buy trash containers for thousands of homeowners. In an August 2008 meeting, TARE indicated it favors the plan. While Mayor Taylor also supports the plan, the final decision on major changes rests with the city council.
Keep up to date on the City of Tulsa’s recycling plans and schedule at www.cityoftulsa.org/Environment/Recycling.