Frequently Asked Questions

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Trash Disposal
1. What do we throw away?
2. How much solid waste is generated?
3. Where does my garbage go?
4. What is a modern landfill?
5. What is a transfer station?
6. What is a Clean Road Center?
7. What about the garbage that never reaches a landfill?
8. I live out-of-town. I don't want to burn or dump. What can I do with my trash?
9. Can illegal dumping disposal of trash on my own property affect my private water well?

Open Burning
10. What's wrong with burning my trash in a burn barrel in my yard?
11. What are the rules on burning trash in Oklahoma?

Illegal Dumping and Littering
12. What should I do if I see someone littering?
13. What should I do if I see someone dumping?

Recycling
14. What is recycling?
15. Is recycling waste prevention?
16. What can I do to help recycle?
17. What is waste prevention?
18. Why is waste prevention important?
19. How can I recycle: Glass, Plastic, Paper, Aluminim, Scrap Metal?
20. How can I recycle Special Wastes, such as: Motor Oil, Batteries, Computers and TVs, Cell Phones,
      Ink Jet Cartridges, Refrigerators, Household Toxic Materials?
21. How can I recycle tires?
22. What happens to scrap tires collected for recycling?

Composting
23. What is composting?
24. How can I set up a compost pile in my yard?

Household Hazardous Wastes
25. How do I know if a waste is hazardous?
26. What damage do these common materials cause?
27. How should I dispose of household hazardous wastes?
28. How can my community hold a household hazardous waste collection?
29. What should I do with leftover paint?

Education
30. How can I schedule a solid waste presentation for my class or civic group?

 

 

Trash Disposal

1. What do we throw away?
Solid waste is composed of durable goods, disposable goods, containers and packaging, food scraps, and yard trimmings. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) comes from households, businesses, restaurants, institutions and some small industries. It does not include industrial wastes, sewage, agricultural wastes, hazardous wastes, or construction and demolition materials.

 

 

 

 

2. How much solid waste is generated?
In 2001, the nation generated 409 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste. Oklahoma contributed 3.8 million tons to that total.

 

3. Where does my garbage go?
Solid waste generated in northeast Oklahoma typically is collected by a municipal or private trash hauler and taken to a landfill for disposal. Nationally, 61% of the MSW collected is landfilled, 7% is incinerated, and 32% is recycled. In Oklahoma, 89% is landfilled, 10% incinerated, and only about 1% is recycled.

(From "State of Garbage in America", BioCycle, December 2001)

 

 

4. What is a modern landfill?
A landfill is an area of land that is specifically designed and built to receive wastes, while minimizing health, safety and environmental impacts. An impermeable liner, made of plastic or clay, is installed to prevent the contamination of groundwater. Waste is deposited in different cells, compacted as much as possible, and covered daily with soil to prevent spreading of trash by winds or animals. Leachate (liquid from the decomposing garbage) is collected in pipes above the liner and removed. Methane gas produced is also removed through pipes rising to the surface. Groundwater in the area is constantly monitored for possible contamination. After a landfill is full, it is capped with another liner and topsoil. Then the land may be used for recreational sites such as parks or golf courses.


(Click here for a diagram of a modern landfill.)
(For a directory of Oklahoma landfills and transfer stations, go to Solid Waste Facility List.)

 

5. What is a transfer station?
As open dumps and small older landfills have been replaced by large modern landfills built according to stricter federal regulations, some communities have found themselves far from the closest landfill. Hauling of many small loads of trash to these distant landfills became inconvenient and expensive. In some counties, transfer stations have been built to receive trash from smaller collection trucks, placing it in large trailers where it can be moved more efficiently to the nearest landfill.

6. What is a Clean Road Center?
Clean Road Centers are small solid waste collection facilities located at convenient sites in rural areas that provide a responsible alternative to the kind of dumping some people do at the ditch. For more detailed information, please visit our web page on County Clean Road Centers.

7. What about the garbage that never reaches a landfill?
In the 14-county service region of the Solid Waste Institute, there are about 542,000 people according to the 2000 census. Slightly over half of these live in incorporated municipalities with regular trash collection. At present, under state law, unincorporated areas are NOT required to provide waste collection and disposal services. That leaves about a quarter million people disposing of over 200,000 tons of waste in unknown ways. Most are certainly responsible and hire private trash haulers or personally take their garbage to legal landfills. However, some of this trash is left in illegal dumps, on roadsides or private property. For more information on what to do about illegal dumping, visit Cleanup of Illegal Dumps.

8. I live out-of-town. I don't want to burn or dump. What can I do with my trash?
Northeast Oklahoma is covered by a network of private trash haulers. Rates are reasonable, compared with fees charged by area municipalities. For names of haulers in your area, check the yellow pages under "Trash Hauling" and call several providers to compare rates and services.

9. Can illegal dumping disposal of trash on my own property affect my private water well?
Yes, private water wells can be polluted by trash and garbage that is buried or thrown on the ground in the vicinity of the well. Click on the following link to the OSU Cooperative Extension for a useful source of information about these and other contamination risks of private water wells and how you can get help in resolving such problems.

Open Burning

10. What's wrong with burning my trash in a burn barrel in my yard?
State regulations prohibit burning household trash in areas where trash collection services are available. Smoke from burning household trash contains many chemicals which are hazardous to human health, especially for older persons and children. Also, many wildfires are started as a result of burning trash.

11. What are the rules on burning trash in Oklahoma?
Please see Overview of Oklahoma Laws and Regulations On Solid Waste Crimes, Punishments, & Penalties

 

Illegal Dumping and Littering

12. What should I do if I see someone littering?
Call the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Litter Hotline, toll free, at 1-888-5-LITTER. Give the license plate number, the make and color of the vehicle, the time, date and location of the incident, and the type of litter, but not your name. Based on this information, the owner of the car is sent a notice explaining that someone was seen littering from their car, asking them to join our effort to keep our state roadsides attractive, and reminding them that littering is illegal and costs Oklahoma taxpayers over $4 million each year.

13. What should I do if I see someone dumping?
Call your local sheriff's office. Law enforcement officials have a duty to enforce open dumping laws. They need your help. Give them all the information you can.

Recycling

14. What is recycling?
Recycling is the process by which materials are collected and used as raw materials for new products. Recycling creates new products such as aluminum cans, newspapers, cereal boxes, paper towels, egg cartons, carpeting, motor oil, car bumpers, nails, trash bags, glass containers, comic books, and laundry detergent bottles. Recycling prevents potentially useful materials from being landfilled or combusted, thus preserving our capacity for disposal. Recycling often saves energy and natural resources. Composting, a form of recycling, can play a key role in diverting organic wastes from disposal facilities.

15. Is recycling waste prevention?
No. With recycling, you need to collect a material, transport it, make it into a new product and market that product. Waste prevention means not creating waste in the first place.

16. What can I do to help recycle?
You can help to recycle. Here are a few examples:

  • Look for items in packages and containers made of recycled materials, and use those products whenever you can.
  • Participate in community recycling drives, curbside programs, and drop off collections.
  • If a recycling program does not exist in your community, participate in establishing one. Call local salvage operators to see if they will accept or pick up materials for recycling. Work with community officials to determine the most cost-effective recycling options for your area.
  • Reuse bags, containers, and other items. Reusing products extends their lives and keeps them out of the solid waste stream longer. (DO NOT reuse containers that originally held oil or pesticides. These contain harmful residues.)
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    17. What is waste prevention?
    The concept of waste prevention is simple - not creating waste in the first place. But in the real world, waste prevention can be confusing. There are hundreds of different examples of waste prevention. Here are just a few:

    One definition for waste prevention is: "Any action undertaken to eliminate or reduce the amount, or the toxicity, of materials before they enter the waste stream. This action is intended to conserve resources, promote efficiency, and reduce pollution."

    A simple way to say it is, "Waste prevention includes reduction and reuse, but not recycling."

    18. Why is waste prevention important?
    If you create less waste, you can consume fewer resources and you don't have to spend as much money to recycle or dispose of your waste. Individuals and businesses can often save a significant amount of money through waste prevention.

    19. How can I recycle: Glass, Plastic, Paper, Aluminum, Scrap Metal?

    Glass
    Glass is a widely recycled item. Unbroken containers are the best, and clear glass is the most valuable.

    Do not recycle: Pyrex, ceramics, mirrors, light bulbs, plate glass, or tableware. Broken glass is difficult and dangerous to sort.


    Plastic
    Plastic containers should be marked with a recycling code in the form of a number. The most widely accepted plastics are numbers 1 and 2. Some areas also restrict plastic based on its shape or color. Plastic bags can sometimes be recycled if they are marked with the number 2 or 4. Grocery stores will sometimes take them, or give you a small discount for re-using them.

    Do not recycle: Check in your area, but generally speaking plastic codes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cannot be recycled.


    Paper, Newspaper, and Cardboard

    Newspapers and corrugated cardboard have been recycled profitably for a long time. Many other kinds of paper can also be recycled; office paper, junk mail, cereal boxes, magazines, and even plastic-windowed envelopes are acceptable at many centers. Some collections also accept phone books.

    Do not recycle: Wet paper, food-stained paper, tissues or napkins, stickers, carbon paper, laminated paper (drink boxes, some food bags, etc.), or thermal fax paper. Also bad for the mix are rubber bands, product samples, water, mold, dirt, or plastic bags.


    Aluminum
    Recycling aluminum cans is one of the most consistently successful efforts at recycling. Not only does it reduce the mining of bauxite, the ore aluminum comes from, and the huge waste piles of "red mud" from which the aluminum has been extracted, but it also saves about 95% of the energy needed in the process. Scrap aluminum like lawn chairs and pots can also be recycled.


    Scrap Metal
    Other metals besides aluminum are also good to recycle. Food cans and any scrap steel (anything that can be attracted by a magnet) may be melted down into steel ingots and used for making all kinds of steel products. Other metals like copper are especially valuable enough to be reused.

    Do not recycle: Full cans, spray cans or cans with traces of paint or other hazardous materials inside. Metal caps can be recycled along with the empty metal cans they go with, but attached non-metal parts should be removed.

    In northest Oklahoma, companies accepting aluminum cans or other scrap metal may be found in the yellow pages under: "Recycling Centers", "Junk Dealers", or "Scrap Metals."

    20. How can I recycle Special Wastes, such as: Motor Oil, Batteries, Computers and TVs, Cell Phones,
           Ink Jet Cartridges, Refrigerators, Household Toxic Materials?

    Motor Oil
    Used motor oil is easy to recycle. Put it in a clearly marked plastic jug and call your local recycling agency for a drop-off location. Or check your local quick-lube shops to see if they will accept it. Many auto parts stores will also take used oil.

    Batteries
    There are several different types of batteries that require different types of disposal. Lead-acid batteries (from autos) are especially polluting. They should be brought in for a refund whenever a replacement is bought. Both the lead and the acid are processed for reuse. "Nicad" (Nickel-Cadmium) rechargeable batteries are also dangerous in landfills, and contain a warning on their labels. For more information, call the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) at 1-800-BATTERY.

    Computers or TVs
    Disposal of electronics ("e-waste") is rapidly becoming a serious problem nationwide. Monitors and TV screens contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead. These and other computer components may contain platinum, copper, nickel, cobalt, barium and cadmium as well, all of which are considered as "hazardous wastes." In Oklahoma, they are still accepted at landfills, where these metals could potentially leach into and eventually contaminate groundwater. A few other states, like Massachusetts, have already banned them from MSW landfills.

    Some communities are developing special collection events for wastes in order to provide responsible options for disposal of these difficult wastes.

    More information on e-waste recycling is available on several websites:

    International Association of Electronic Recyclers
    U.S. EPA Recycling Initiative
    Share the Technology Computer Recycling Project
    Technology Recycling
    Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

    Cell Phones
    Old mobile phones also contain several toxic materials like lead, cadmium and mercury. Several organizations accept donated phones and refurbish them for reuse, either reselling or donating them to non-profit groups. Much of this is coordinated through the Wireless Foundation. CARE also accepts donated cell phones.


    Ink Jet Printer Cartridges
    At the moment, the U.S. Post Offices have small cardboard displays offering free plastic bag mailers. You place your old cartridge (in its old box or the new one) into the mailer, seal it, and put it in a mailbox. No postage is necessary. Nationwide, several companies offfer cartridge recycling. Check the Internet for more information.

    Refrigerators or other large appliances
    Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other large appliances are known as "white goods." The most desirable option for getting rid of one, if it still works or is repairable, is "reuse" - to sell it or give it away.

    The second choice is "recycling" - scrap metal is melted down and made into steel for new products. To protect our air quality from freon, etc., any refrigerant must be removed by a licensed technician beforehand. You may be able to drop the item off at a local scrap metal dealer. Some landfills and transfer stations also accept white goods for a small fee. For detailed information, call your local landfill, transfer station, or trust authority. Please go to the Disposal Site Directory for a list of disposal sites and their phone numbers.

    Household Toxic Materials
    Poisons, oil-based paints, solvents, household cleaning products, pesticides, weed killers, antifreeze, gasoline, and oils should be disposed of with care. They should never be dumped down storm drains since the drains often flow into rivers, lakes, and streams without ever being treated. Some larger communities have periodic collection events for these chemicals. Otherwise, they are best used up, shared, or evaporated, and then the container wrapped carefully for disposal with your regular trash. Your local recycling agency or sanitation department should be able to tell you how best to dispose of them in your area.

    For more information on Household Toxic Materials:
      Household Hazardous Waste (#25-29, below)
      Local Management of Household Hazardous Wastes
      Household Pollutant Collection Events

    21. How can I recycle tires?
    Oklahoma's waste tire recycling program, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), helps people get rid of unwanted tires that don't get delivered to tire dealers but seem to accumulate in our garages and around our homes. With the proper approval from ODEQ and assistance from one of the states's permitted waste tire processors, community waste tire recycling collections can be offered to the public FREE of any charge for the tire disposal.



    For more information on waste tire recycling, please visit our web page on Waste Tire Recycling. To find out how to hold an event, read the brochure "Community Waste Tire Collections" on this web site.

     

     

    22. What happens to scrap tires collected for recycling?
    Nationwide, more than three quarters of scrap tires generated go to an end use market. The largest part (41%) are used as fuel for cement kilns, paper mills, and power plants. Some of these are shredded and others used as whole tires. Tire Derived Fuel (TDF) has a higher energy content and produces less sulfur pollution than the coal it replaces.

    A smaller but rapidly growing use is in civil engineering projects, including landfill construction and, in the form of tire shreds, in septic system drain fields. Tire shreds are lighter to work woth than the gravel they replace, and provide larger pore spaces for effluents.

    Other uses are based on grinding the rubber into a fine powder called crumb rubber. This material is added to asphalt roads, horse arenas, and running tracks. Inclusion of rubber under playgrounds provides decreased injuries, more bounce, and better drainage.

    In Oklahoma, the predominant use for waste tires brought to community collection events is as Tire Derived Fuel for three cement kilns. Tire shreds are increasingly used for drain fields here, and one company is producing crumb rubber. Whole tires are also used in bank erosion control projects.

     

    Composting

    23. What is composting?
    Composting is another form of recycling. It is the controlled microbial decomposition of organic matter (such as food scraps and yard trimmings) in the presence of oxygen into a humus- or soil-like material.

    Backyard composting of certain food scraps and yard trimmings can significantly reduce the amount of waste that needs to be managed or put in a landfill.

    24. How can I set up a compost pile in my backyard?
    A compost pile can be set up in a corner of the yard with few supplies. Choose a level spot about 3 to 5 feet square near a water source and preferably out of direct sunlight. Clear the area of sod and grass. Be sure to leave enough space for air to reach the pile.

    Many foods can be composted, including vegetable trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds with filters, and tea bags. In addition to leaves, grass, and yard clippings, vacuum cleaner lint, sawdust, and shredded newspaper can be composted. DO NOT compost meats, dairy foods, or any fats, oil, or grease because they can attract pests.

    Start the pile with a 4 inch layer of leaves, loose soil, or other coarse yard trimmings. If you are going to compost food scraps (a slightly more involved process), you should mix them with yard trimmings when adding them to the pile. Alfalfa meal or clean cat litter may be added to the pile to absorb odors. In dry weather, sprinkle water on the pile, but don't get it too soggy. Turn the pile every few weeks with a pitchfork to circulate air and distribute moisture evenly. Don't be surprised by the heat of the pile or if you see worms, both of which are part of the decomposition process. Make sure children do not play in the composting pile or bin.

    In most climates, the compost is done in 3 to 6 months when it becomes a dark crumbly material that is uniform in texture. Spread it in the garden or yard beds or under shrubbery. The compost can also be used as potting soil.

    Household Hazardous Wastes

    25. How do I know if a waste is hazardous?
    Read the label. In many cases, a hazardous material will be indicated by a Caution, Warning or Danger heading. (For example, a pesticide might say Warning; Poison.)

    A product is hazardous when it has one or more of the following properties:

  • Flammable/combustible: Can easily be set on fire or ignited.
  • Explosive/reactive: Can detonate or explode if exposed to heat, sudden shock or pressure.
  • Corrosive/caustic: Can burn and destroy living tissue.
  • Toxic/poisonous: Capable of causing injury or death by ingestion, inhalation or absorption.
  • Radioactive: Can damage and destroy cells and chromosomal material.

    • Examples of common household hazardous wastes include solvents, bug sprays, herbicides, used oil, antifreeze, gasoline, oil-based and specialty paints, lead-acid batteries, nicad/alkaline batteries, household cleaners, and smoke alarms.


    26. What damage do these common materials cause?
    When a bottle of paint thinner is poured down the drain, used motor oil is allowed to run into the storm sewer, or an aerosol can of pesticide is thrown out with the trash, we may be poisoning our water supply. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to handle certain types of hazardous wastes. Stormwater systems run directly into rivers and lakes. And from landfills, some toxic materials can filter into the groundwater or evaporate into the air.

    Furthermore, half empty bottles of bug spray or cleaners, with labels torn or unreadable, are often stored forgotton on back shelves in closets or garages. These pose a risk to family members, especially children, visitors, or new property owners. In an emergency, firefighters are in special danger from these unknowns. When thrown away, there is a risk to local trash handlers.

    27. How should I dispose of household hazardous wastes?
    Although it is still legal to dispose of hazardous materials generated by ordinary households in our regular trash, this is certainly not the best choice. Many products may be collected for recycling in a nearby community (see #20 above, or visit our web page Household Pollutant Collection Events). Other options include:

    28. How can my community hold a household hazardous waste collection?


    For information on community household hazardous waste collections, please visit Local Management of Household Hazardous Waste.

     

     

     


    29. What should I do with leftover paint?
    Paints are either latex- (water-) based or solvent- (oil-) based. Latex paints do NOT meet the requirements of Environmental Protection Agency standards to be classified as a "hazardous waste". If it mixes readily with water, it is a latex paint. Oil-based paints, including polyurethanes and varnishes, on the other hand, ususlly contain organic solvents which pose dangers for accidental inhalation and flammability. Disposal of these in regular household trash could cause risks to garbage handlers and a chance of environmental contamination.

    First, to reduce problems with paint disposal, choose latex paints if possible, as they are the most environmentally friendly. Second, buy only what you need. Paint stores and Internet sites have information to help calculate amounts needed for strange-shaped rooms. Thire, use it up. Use leftover paint as a base coat for a new job of similar type paint, or put an extra coat on the shed or utility room. If it is necessary to store paint, create an airtight seal by covering the can with plastic wrap, making sure the lid fits securely, and then turning the can upside down to create the seal. Label it carefully, with date and where it was used, and don't let if freeze.

    To dispose of latex paint, leave the can exposed to the air, away from children and pets. Greater quantities can be mixed with crumpled newspaper, wood chips, or cat litter. When dry, send it to the landfill with your regular trash. Oil-based, hobby, or other specialty paints should not be air-dried in this way, as they contain more environmentally hazardous components. These should be saved for a household pollutant collection event. Dry or empty containers can be thrown in the regular trash.

    Education

    30. How can I schedule a solid waste presentation for my class or civic group?
    Several different no-cost, public service programs may be scheduled by calling the Solid Waste Institute at (918) 456-0116 or (888) 452-0116. Our Education/Outreach Coordinator will arrange a date and time for an activity that would interest your group. After-School and Summer programs can also be designed. For more information on the types of presentations available, please visit our Education page.

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    Clipart images courtesy of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Association of Oregon Recyclers.