OKMULGEE – This year’s recycling day was again punctuated by the sharp sounds of paper shredding. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Office of Environmental Services’ new shredding truck made its debut performance at the Recycle Collection Event on Friday, April 24. The event, held annually during Earth Week, previously outsourced shredding services to a third party, but now they can shred sensitive documents for MCN departments and citizens at events like this. The new $250,000 shredding truck was purchased with a $ 1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant also provided the department with a new baler.
MCN Office of Environmental Services Director James Williams said the shredding truck will soon make stops at Tribal government offices, saving hundreds of dollars in third-party shredding costs. According to Williams, third-party shredding trucks in the past have cost $300 per hour.
“We celebrate Earth Day every day here because that’s what we do. It’s good to see people come out and say, ‘Yeah, it’s Earth Week, we need to do something good, we need to plant something, we need to get rid of something.”
The department has held the annual recycling event since 2010. Williams’ favorite part about recycling events is seeing the community come together to make the environment shine a little brighter. Events like these keep community members informed about common household appliances and materials that no longer serve a purpose.
“A lot of people don’t always know what to do with that stuff,” Williams said. “There’s so much e-waste that will go in a landfill forever; it doesn’t degrade. This way we can take it and take it to a certified recycler.”
Williams remarked that items such as working television monitors are dropped off at collection events. If the monitor and its remote controller are in working condition, Williams said they are donated to nursing homes for their residents. According to Williams, past collection events have donated 10-20 working, second-hand televisions.
The Recycle Collection Event does not take in hazardous materials; those should be saved for the department’s annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events. The last HHW event hosted by the department took place on Friday, March 27.
Williams said his department’s recycling services are open to the community on the Mvskoke Reservation. Even if someone has never recycled in their lifetime, Williams believes it is never too late to start.
“We want the Nation to get excited. We want the community involved. The entire reservation is welcome. If you have something that’s going on in town, we’re available to put bins out.” Williams said.
MCN Office of Environmental Service’s next event is the annual Community Clean-Up Event on Friday, May 1. Volunteer registration opens at 12:30 p.m. at the MCN Tribal Executive Building Canopy on the main MCN Tribal Complex. Clean-up routes will be determined and will last from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Gloves, trash bags, neon vests, and water will be provided. It is open to the public.
