The search continues for an organization interested in operating the City-owned drop-off recycle center, Public Works Director Keith Kenry said this week.
The City issued an RFP in hopes of attracting an organization qualified and interested in operating the City-owned recycling drop-off center, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue, after the current operator, Replenysh, announced in February it would end its agreement with the City effective the end of April.
Responses to the RFP are still under review, Henry said Monday.
“We are looking at all possible options in an effort to have a new program up and running by the time Replenysh leaves next month,” he said.
Replenysh, a California-based company, took over the operation in 2021, after the City’s recycling program came to a halt due to fire damage at Tulsa Recycling & Transfer, the processing facility used previously by the City.
Henry said the decision to end the agreement with the City is primarily due to a lack of funding.
“Recycling costs a lot of money, both to operate and collect those goods,” he said. “Replenysh initially made money based on support from large bottling companies and grants, but those avenues are no longer available.”
Henry said in the past year, Replenysh collected 310,000 pounds of material, a total of which was valued at less than $20,000.
“Obviously, that isn’t enough to pay the hauling fees and four staff members — Carl Lowe and his crew, who do an excellent job,” he said. “They collected more than 300,000 pounds of material and sold it all for just under $20,000, which means they operated the center at a $95,000 loss last year alone.
“There is simply no money to be made right now in recycling. It’s a great program, and a needed one. Everyone wants it — it’s just a matter of finding a way to pay for it.”