Plastic Recycling in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Recycling in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is voluntary for all residents. Anyone receiving residential trash service can sign up for the city's curbside recycling program to recycle their plastics and other materials.

Types of Plastic

• The city of Tulsa accepts plastic labeled either 1 or 2 for recycling as part of the curbside pickup program. Number 1 plastic is typically used in bottles for soft drinks, jars of peanut butter, jelly, salad dressing or other condiments and trays of frozen food. Number 2 plastic is typically used in containers for milk, shampoo, detergent, grocery bags and in boxes of cereal. Recyclables are collected every other week for a fee of $2 per month.

Other Ways to Recycle

• In addition to the curbside recycling program, residents may also take plastic and other recyclables to one of 12 free recycling drop-off areas operated by the Metropolitan Environmental Trust. Like the curbside pickup program, these areas can only accept Number 1 and 2 plastic containers.

Plastic Recycling Statistics

• Since 1999, Tulsa residents have recycled more than 10,000 tons of material. Plastic makes up a significant part of that number. In 2007-2008 alone, the Tulsa Recycles program recycled nearly 125 tons of plastic, saving enough energy to fill a 20-gallon tank every week for over a thousand years.