Morgan Taylor/Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – The Muscogee Nation Office of Environmental Services is hosting an upcoming event in recognition of Recycling Day on Nov. 19.
The first Recycling Day was celebrated nationally on Nov. 15, 1997, but it can be traced back to three years before in the state of Texas as the brainchild of two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis.
According to National Geographic, Americans send 64 tons of waste to landfills during their lifetime, totaling 246 million tons of waste each year.
Okmulgee County residents and Muscogee (Creek) citizens can participate in Recycling Day by bringing e-waste items for the Curbside Recycling Event on Nov. 19 at the MCN Recycling Center from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
E-waste consists of TVs, monitors, cell phones, small appliances and other electronics.
Other items accepted can be white goods (washer and dryer), automobile batteries, alkaline batteries, tires, cardboard, paper, plastic bottles 1 and 2, and aluminum cans. Plastic can be determined with a number on the bottom of the bottle.
MN Environmental Specialist Kristy Lawson claimed e-waste items can be harmful for the soil and water.
“Not only can it be harmful for the environment to allow these items to break down but its ultimately a waste of resources,” Lawson said.
She said recycled e-waste is sent to companies specializing in salvaging the items’ parts for reuse.
Free document shredding will take place 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The department is requesting all documents be free of staples, clips, and binders.
Materials such as hazardous waste including paint, medications, glues, fluorescent bulbs, chemicals, pesticides, cleaners, and insect repellants will not be accepted.
Participants must bring a MCN citizenship card or utility bill with an Okmulgee County address.
Partnerships include Shredders Inc., Fastenal, MCN Conservation District and RTR Services Inc.
For more information regarding the events, call MN Environmental Services at: 918-549-2580.
