Our semi-annual pollutant collection kicks off this Saturday!  Rain or shine, we will be at 15th and Sandusky from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  To beat the crowd, come early.  It gets pretty busy in the afternoon.  Still, we unload up to five cars per minute for five hours straight.  This is Tulsa’s one and only pollutant collection event.  We’ve been at it for twenty years, and have a system down that works.  If the stuff in your garage scares you, bring it to us and we’ll take care of it.

Take a look in the shed, garage, and under the sink for chemicals, cleaners, non-latex paints, solvents, pesticides, and fertilizers.  Check the medicine cabinet for any old medication you won’t be using. Carefully place them in your car and drive over to the fairgrounds.  Our massive volunteer force will carefully unload your car for you and send you on your way.

The Met isn’t “anti-chemical”, we’re “anti-storing-them-in-your-home-forever”.  If you buy chemicals, use them up.  Just by what you need.  If you find yourself with leftovers, find another project to finish them off with.  If you cant find a way to use them up, bring them to us.  We host the pollutant event once in the spring and once in the fall.

There are many safe and natural alternatives to chemical cleaners.  Our site has a list of easy homemade alternatives to harmful store-bought chemicals here.

Remember, ridding yourself of these chemicals makes your home, neighborhood, and planet safe.

Wednesday, April 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Downtown, on Main between 4th and 5th streets 

The 14th annual Enviro Expo is around the corner.  Each year, the Met hosts Enviro Expo to celebrate Earth Day with the downtown work force.

It’s our way of turning a few white-collars green…

• Booths from a variety of local green businesses will be set up along Main street to answer any questions you may have regarding sustainable practices.
• Jared Tyler will be gracing downtown with live music.
• “Green” cars will be showcased on the street.
• Whether you’re a green veteran, or a recycling amateur, any environmental questions you have will be answered.

Met Director Michael Patton spoke at the Tribal Environmental Summit at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Tulsa on Friday March 30th.  Big changes are happening across the country in the world of recycling.  See below for a copy of the presentation.

Rapidly Changing Recycling

I am pleased that there has been some progress in the Oklahoma Legislature in regards to recycling. Last week Senate bill 1162 made it out of committee to be heard on the floor. This bill creates the Oklahoma Recyclable Container Initiative, a working group for the purpose of encouraging and promoting recycling.

The bill more clearly states that the working group will help create partnerships between the various stakeholders committed to improving the recovery and resale of high quality valuable container feedstock. Their primary mission will be to identify methods to help Oklahoma industries achieve a goal of capturing and reusing fifty percent of recyclable containers.

If the bill passes the House and Senate then gets signed by the Governor, the committee of nine members will get to work within sixty days. The members will be appointed by various state agencies including the tax commission, departments of commerce and environmental quality, as well as the Governor, the state House and the state Senate.

I lamented a couple of weeks ago when the legislature failed to move forward with a more comprehensive recycling bill that would add a deposit/redemption bill for recyclable containers. The convenience store lobby and beer distributors didn’t want it and were powerful enough to kill it once again. Now, maybe this new group can help build a case to try again. I believe that a redemption and deposit law will not only pay for itself, but will create new jobs and a surplus to the general fund.

It is a shame that more people don’t recycle their bottles and cans. It hurts the local industries trying to make new products out of recycled feedstock by forcing them to buy materials collected from other states. I heard this week from a glass bottle company who said they just paid shipping form California for a load of cullet and the shipping costs were twice the value of the glass. The glass plant could have cut their material costs in a third if more Oklahomans had recycled their glass bottles.

I want to thank Senator Brian Bingman from Sapulpa for moving SB1162 forward. He is a powerful republican (Senate Pro-tem) and realizes that this bill is not an environmental bill, but a jobs bill. Passage of this measure will help environmental efforts to recycle, but more importantly, will help preserve and create good jobs right here in Oklahoma.

This spring is going to be a green one.  Over 30 environmental events will take place in the greater Tulsa area between the months of March and May.

MARCH

• Tulsa Home & Garden Show. March 8-11. Oklahoma’s largest and longest running home and garden show. 450 exhibitions at the QuikTrip Center. Sponsored by the Homebuilders Association.
• OK Dep’t of Forestry Tree Sale. March 22, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Minimum 100 seedlings per order. Contact: 800.517.3673. 810 W. Ramm Road, Claremore.
• OK Dep’t of Forestry Tree Sale. March 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Minimum 100 seedlings per order. Contact: 800.517.3673. 3495 S. Sheridan Road
• EcoFest. March 29-31, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. TCC Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache. Contact: Mike Limas, mlimas@tulsacc.edu. Professor Audrey Alcorn, aalcorn@tulsacc.com.
• Green Gardening and Composting Workshop. March 31, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hardesty Regional Library. There will be a seed swap and a compost bin give-away.

APRIL

• Sand Springs CARE Cleanup Day. April 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free disposal of bulky household items. Must show Sand Springs utility bill with Refuse Service. At the American Environmental Landfill. Contact: Sunnie Smith 918.246.2579.
• SpringFest Garden Market. April 13-14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria. Gardening extravaganza including flowers, books, crafts, jewelry, informational booths and much more. Contact: 918.746.5125.
• St. John’s 4th Annual Green Fest. April 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Mary K. Chapman Health Plaza, 1819 E. 19th Street. Exhibitors from across the state will promote greener living and environmentally-conscious practices.
• Fairgrounds Pollutant Collection. April 14-15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 15th & Sandusky. Residential waste only. For a list of acceptable items, visit metrecycle.com. Contact the MET: 918.584.0584
• Owasso Free Landfill Day. April 14th, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Quarry Landfill. 13740 E. 46 St. N. Contact Public Works: 918.272.4959.
• Chandler Park Community Center’s Earth Day. April 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Service projects providing tangible benefits to the west side, educational workshops from OSU Extension, hands-on exhibits, rock painting contest, coordinated games and powerful guest speakers.
• Tulsa Drillers “Grow Your Own Bat” Game Night. April 15, 2:05 p.m. & April 17, 7:05 p.m. Archer & Elgin. Fans receive a free tree seedling while supplies last. A Met and Up With Trees event.
• Ozone Alert Kickoff. April 16th. Contact: INCOG, 918.584.7526.
• 14th Annual Enviro Expo. April 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Main Street, between 4th & 5th, Downtown Tulsa. Join Tulsa’s official Earth Day party! Environmental fair and live music. Contact: 918.584.0584 or www.metrecycle.com. A Met event.
• Earth Day at SHOW, Inc. April 21st, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 425 W. Wells Blvd., Sapulpa. Citywide clean-up day including tire collection. Contact: 918.224.7214.
• 23rd Annual Trash-Off. April 21. Various times, statewide. Statewide spring cleaning, including state and local parks, Adopt-A-Highway groups, lakes and communities. Contact: Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, 405.286.9141.
• Party for the Planet at Tulsa Zoo. April 21, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N. A day of educational activities for the entire family. Discounted admission if you bring a cell phone to recycle! Contact: Jay Ross, 918.669.6204.
• 23nd Annual Herbal Affair. April 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 2nd & Main, Sand Springs. Herb vendors, arts & crafts, lectures, live entertainment, and kids area. Contact: 918.245.5082.
• City of Tulsa Free Landfill Days. April 21-22, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Quarry Landfill, 13740 E. 46th Street North.  Tulsa. Open to City of Tulsa residents. Proof of residency required. Contact the Mayor’s Action Center: 918.596.2100.
• Earth Day at the Drillers. April 26, 7:05 p.m. First 1000 fans will receive a waterbottle, and an environmental fair will be held on the plaza. Drillers wear green jerseys. Contact: 918.584.0584. A Met event.
• Green Leaf Gala. April 27, 6:30-9 p.m. Downtown Doubletree Hotel. $75 per person. Contact Up With Trees: 918.610.8733 or www.upwithtrees.org.
• Jenks Herb and Plant Festival. April 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jenks First Baptist Church, 205 E. A St. Contact: Jenks Garden Club, 918.299.0007.
• 18th Annual Creek Cleanup. Date TBA, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: Tulsa County Conservation District, 918.280.1595 or tulsaccd@conservation.ok.gov.

MAY

• Jenks Trash Bash. Date TBA, Time TBA. Contact: Jenks Kiwanis Club, 918.299.5425.
• Broken Arrow Spring Cleanup. Date TBA, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Waste Management Quarry Landfill. BA residents only. Info: www.brokenarrowok.gov.

ONGOING EVENTS

• Birding With Oxley Nature Center. Every first Saturday, 8-9:45 a.m. Free; no pre-registration required. Contact: 918.669.6644
• Oxley Family Adventures. Every 2nd Saturday of the month, through May. 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. Free, registration not required. Contact: 918.669.6644
• Sand Springs Chipper Days. First Saturday of every month, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 8620 W. 21st St. Limbs up to 2” diameter. If it falls on a holiday weekend, it will be held the following Saturday. Contact: 918.246.2588
• Great American Cleanup. March 1-May 31. Various dates, times and locations throughout the state. Contact: Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, 405.286.9141 or visit www.keepoklahomabeautiful.com.

FARMERS MARKETS

• Brookside Farmers’ Market. Wednesdays, May-October. 8 a.m.-noon. Food Pyramid, 41st & Peoria. Contact: Lisa Brandborg, 918.789.3881.
• Downtown Tulsa Farmers’ Market. Tuesdays, May-October. 10:30-2. 3rd & Boston, Tulsa. Contact: 918.224.5337
• Owasso Farmers’ Market. May-September. Wednesdays, 9-noon. & Saturdays, 8-1. YMCA, 8300 N. Owasso Expressway. Contact: 918.694.3490
• Cherry Street Farmers’ Market. Saturdays, April-October. 7-11 a.m. 15th & Peoria. Info: www.cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com. (Starts April 14th)
• Broken Arrow Farmers’ Market. Saturdays, 8-noon, April 14 through October 13. 418 S. Main St. Contact: 918.259.6572.
• Pearl Farmers’ Market. Thursdays, April 14-August 25. 4-7 p.m. 6th & Peoria. Contact: 918.588.1900 ext. 3221.

Dates: Friday, January 27th – Sunday, January 29, 2012

Show Hours:  12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Friday), 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Sunday).
Location:  The Expo Square’s Exchange Center.  4145 E. 21st Street.  Tulsa, OK
Cost: FREE 

Next weekend the Met will be present at the 9th annual Green Country Home & Garden Show.  Come out and chat with the experts, see what the latest trends are, and look for inspiration for your own home and garden.  This show brings all of the best retailers, products, and resources together, and puts them under one roof.

The Met will be one of over 150 exhibits.  After you’ve walked around, grabbed some coupons, tried some free samples, and maybe made a purchase or two, swing by the Met’s booth.  We can teach you how to make your home and garden a little more eco-friendly.  We will be more than happy to talk to you about what you currently do, or what you can do to be environmentally conscious.

See you there!

P.S.   The first 100 people through the doors each day will receive a $10.00 Lowe’s gift card.

The holidays are here.  The time ahead of us will be filled with family, friends, food, and gift-buying frustration.  Let’s face it, the giving of a gift is a rewarding experience, but finding the right one can be a different experience altogether.

Green-gifting is a way you can reduce the amount of frustration associated with picking out the right presents. Sticking to a theme can help you stay on track.  Green gifts are those that can be used again and again, do not produce excess waste, and keep the environment in mind.  We live in a world of material excess.  Gifts like these will keep some of that excess from producing an effect on our environment.

Citizen Eco Drive Watch
A great watch is one that does not require batteries, one that charges itself.  The Citizen Eco Drive does exactly that.  Watch batteries are a hassle to replace, and they never lose their life at a convenient time.  More importantly, batteries are harmful to the environment.  A battery contains harsh metals and chemicals that seep into the environment when discarded.  The average American will use 17 batteries per year, and very few of those will be recycled.  This watch uses light (artificial or natural) as a power source that continuously charges its internal battery.   So, if you’re looking for a stylish, long-lasting green gift, take a look at the Citizen Eco Drive.  They range in price from around $100 to $400, but can be found on Ebay for as little as $50.  Major department stores carry this watch in over 200 different models for both men and women.

Digital Camera
The digital camera is another high-tech green gift.  Modern digital cameras run on rechargeable batteries.  Every time a battery is recharged, it is one less battery that will be discarded.  Another nice thing about digital photography is that it does not require printing to share.  Photos can be texted, emailed, or posted electronically, eliminating the need for harmful development chemicals and paper usage.  They are no longer terribly expensive either. You can find a good digital camera for around $70.  Fisher-Price even makes durable digital cameras for kids.  These cameras can handle being dropped, kicked, and thrown down the stairs.  The digital camera is a good green gift for all ages.

Food Saver
Americans throw away around 30% of the food they buy.  Using a Food Saver can help reduce that percentage.  The Food Saver is an electronic device that vacuum-seals leftover food for storage.  Proteins and produce will last up to 3-4 times longer when sealed by a Food Saver.  These handy kitchen gadgets come in a variety of makes and models, and start as low as $80.

Soda Stream USA
“Fizz the season!”  A Soda Stream is a greener way to enjoy a bubbly beverage.  This battery-free device converts water into soda in a reusable bottle.  America throws away 52 million plastic bottles per day.  With this new gadget, you no longer have to contribute to that number.  The makers of Soda Stream make over 50 flavors to mix in your soda.

Bicycle
Not only is a bicycle great exercise, but with Tulsa’s burgeoning trail system, it is an effective mode of transportation as well.  Human-powered gifts are the greenest gifts of all.  The bicycle requires no batteries, has no emissions, and doesn’t require a trip to the gas station (unless you just want to pick up a snack).  One more bike on the road is one less car off of the road, and they can be ridden at (almost) any age.  Tulsa is full of great bike shops that will custom fit a bike to your bod.  Used bikes are affordable, and can be great fixer-upper projects to complete with a friend or family member.

Board Games
The board game can be used again and again, and this is what makes it a green gift. Reduce, reuse, recycle as the saying goes.  Depending on who you play with, the game will be a little different every time it’s played.  There are board games to suit every age and demographic.  If you want to spend the evening waging a strategic six-hour battle against your roommates, try Risk.  If you’d like to have a little fun with words for a half-hour, pick up Boggle.  If you want to test your relationship, bring home Scrabble.

Reusable Water Bottle
Every plastic water bottle thrown away sits in a landfill for 200 years, and Americans go through millions of them each year.  Reusable bottles are an easy way to be green.  They come in all makes, models, shapes and sizes.  For a sleek, trendy, green, bottle, try Kleen Kanteen, Nalgene, or CamelBak.

Wind-up Emergency Radio
Every house in Tornado Alley should have one of these.  This device, priced at around $50, is a good addition to anyone’s emergency kit.  It has a built-in flashlight, and requires no batteries to operate.  Wind it up and stay informed in any situation.  With the wind-up feature, you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries, or discarding any once they’re out of juice.  Lowes carries a great model by the American Red Cross.

Cloth Napkins
When you think about it, the disposable napkin is a pretty wasteful idea.  It’s a little piece of flimsy tissue that you use and discard on a daily basis.  Try reducing the amount of paper you waste by introducing the cloth napkin into your home, and just throw them in with your regular laundry to clean.  Cloth napkins are sold by a myriad of different makers, and can be matched to any occasion, whether it’s a lunch at your desk or a dinner party.  Evolution brand, sold at Bed Bath and Beyond, sells reusable napkins made from recycled plastic.

GPS Unit
Cars run on gas.  Driving uses up gas.  Driving lost uses up lots of gas.  Mobile GPS units for the car are an affordable way to make your next drive an efficient one.  These gadgets are the perfect gift to give an avid road tripper.  If you know exactly where you’re going, you won’t have to use any more gas than you need.  TomTom offers GPS units for as little as $50.

December Green Scene

At long last, the newsletter has arrived. Click above to view a PDF.

Nothing brings people together like grease.

Golden greasy goodness just makes food taste better.  A long time ago (before combo meals and fair food) someone decided a potato cut into slices and cooked in hot fat would taste great.  Guess what? They were right.  This simple method works on all kinds of food, including turkey.  While not-so-good for your love-handles (or heart), it’s great for your taste buds.  Don’t worry, it’s the holidays. Indulge.

If you find yourself thinking, “why would I roast a turkey this Thanksgiving when I could FRY it!?”, you’re  in for a delicious holiday meal to be sure, but read on.

Turkey grease (any kind of grease) has an interesting effect on city plumbing: it stops it from working.  Grease clogs pipes the same way it clogs your arteries.  Keep it out of the pipes by disposing of it properly.

If you find yourself dumping the 2 gallons of turkey-fryer grease down the drain, not only are you angering ancient Indian and Pilgrim ghosts, but you’re costing the city money (which is really your money).  When city pipes get clogged with gallons of grease, someone has to fix them, and that costs money.  So, next time you feel like pouring cooking grease down the drain, grab a wad of Andrew Jacksons and throw those in too.

Here’s what you should do with that grease:

• Pour and scrape all the leftover grease from your fryer/pots/pans into a durable container (like a coffee can, bucket, or the container it came in).
• Wipe greasy dishes with a paper towel before placing  in the dishwasher.  Throw the soiled paper towel in the trash.
• Toss the food scraps into the trash, not the garbage disposal (or join the rest of us an get a compost bin).
• When your container is full of fryer grease/cooking oil, bring it to any M.e.t. recycling center, and we’ll take care of it.

Click here for more info from the City of Tulsa.

Click here to see why you should beware of the grease blob.

The annual America Recycle Day Banquet approaches!  This Tuesday evening, at the Hyatt Regency downtown,  the Met will honor Oklahomans who have taken recycling to the next level.  There are still seats available.  Tickets are $50.00.  If you would like to attend, please give us a call at 918.584.0584!