Update: This story contains some outdated information. For information about the City’s recycling program, see https://www.cityofbartlesville.org/city-services/refuse-recycling/
The City Council heard a presentation Monday regarding potential recycling options in Bartlesville following the temporary closure of the City’s drop-off recycle center, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue. The center has been closed since April, when a fire severely damaged Tulsa Recycle and Transfer, the company that processes the City’s recyclable materials.
Mark Armen, founder and CEO of Replenysh, a California technology-based company that connects recycling efforts with brands interested in purchasing recycled materials, addressed the council by saying his company seeks to connect recyclers and purchasers of the recyclable material.
“Today, contrary to public belief, there are strong markets for recycled materials and the demand is insatiable,” Armen said. “Major consumer brands, retailers and manufacturers have made supply chain commitments to buy and incorporate recycled materials into their new products.”
These entities have a problem, however: “They cannot get their hands on enough of it,” he said.
Armen says the City “is sitting on” approximately $771,000 of material value across five materials: Cardboard, PET containers (water bottle or soda bottle plastic), HDPE containers – natural (milk jug plastic), HDPE containers -color (laundry detergent plastic) and aluminum cans.
“In other words, the City would earn $771,000.00, less transportation fees, if 100 percent of this material was collected and marketed directly to buyers,” he said. “I am not asking the City to buy a baler and start marketing material directly; however, I am arguing that materials have value and we should stop burying or burning them.”
Armen said Replenysh works with major consumer brands, retailers and manufacturers to recover these materials and inject them into the supply chain. He said Replenysh is not a service but rather builds tools for both the supply and demand by onboarding hosts and members.
“Hosts are communities, organizations, businesses or individuals who accept source-separated materials and monetize those materials, and members are individuals who want to give their used products and materials new life. Hosts can request a pickup or transport materials directly to buyers for additional earnings,” he said. “For example, a local retailer could accept materials from their customers and request a pickup whereas a local dog rescue organization or Boy Scouts troop could accept materials and drive them to our network of buyers.”
City staff say that if implemented, the service would likely work best in Bartlesville by the holding of recycling events sponsored by the City and/or other non-profit organizations. The events would allow recyclers to drop off their pre-sorted materials at a designated site, which would then be transported to an area buyer.
The council took no action on the issue as the agenda item was for discussion only. Armen said he will continue to work with City staff to determine whether the program is appropriate for Bartlesville.