Broken Arrow To Launch Recycling Program To Help Environment, Economy

The City of Broken Arrow will start its first curbside recycling program next month.

The city said 32,000 recycling carts will be delivered to residents this month, so families can get ready for the new recycling program that begins October 5.

For years, any recycling in Broken Arrow was done at the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (MET), and that’s not going anywhere, but Recycling Outreach Coordinator Mackenzie Jones said recycling will soon be much easier.

"We've never had curbside recycling in Broken Arrow and so participants were able to opt-in, our customers could choose whether they'd like to recycle or not, we had more than a 90% opt-in rate, so we're really excited," Jones said.

The city said by next month, the recycling program will help prevent more than 9 million pounds of recyclables from ending up in the landfill.

"We have people put out 5 or 6 trash bags and more than half of that could be recycled," Jones said.

The program will accept paper, plastic, metal, and glass.

Becky Wood has recycled for years and served on a citizens recycling committee to help bring the program to BA.

"I was actually shocked to find that Broken Arrow was one of the very few communities left in the whole nation that wasn't recycling, so yes if I can help this community bring recycling in I'm all for it, let's do it," said Wood. 

Wood said not only does recycling show environmental responsibility, but it also helps the economy by attracting new businesses to BA.

"One of the factors that businesses look at when they potentially come into a new community is does that community recycle, are they a sustainable community, are they a green community," Wood said.

For more information on what can be recycled and to figure out when your collection day will be, visit this website here.