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Tulsa, Okla., Continues its Battle with Recycling Contamination
In October 2016, the city conducted an audit on the city’s recycling collections, and according to the data captured, the city has a 32.8 percent contamination rate.
1 Min Read
While recycling costs remain higher than usual and recycling contamination continues to increase, some cities in the U.S. are cutting back or eliminating recycling programs in an effort to save money.
The City of Tulsa, Okla., is one of the most recent cities trying to overcome the ongoing issue of contamination. In October 2016, the city conducted an audit on the city’s recycling collections, and according to the data captured, the city has a 32.8 percent contamination rate. This rate is the second highest rate the city has had since it expanded its recycling program citywide in 2012.
This high rate is due to bad recycling, according to Tulsa Division Manager of Refuse and Recycling Maureen Turner. And in an effort to crackdown on the major offenders, the city is increasing its removal of blue carts.
Tulsa World has more details:
Trash contamination in recycling carts continues to afflict recyclers, with one-third of all the volume collected in the blue receptacles going to the incinerator, ultimately at the expense of residents.
The most recent audit of recycling collections, conducted in October, shows 32.8 percent contamination, according to data provided by the city.
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