Published: July 01, 2009 10:17 am      

Group pushing recycling center

Several city leaders hoping to start a recycling center in McAlester say they felt encouraged following a Tuesday night meeting.

Approximately 32 people attended an inaugural meeting to discuss the feasibility of the concept, held at Pride in McAlester’s new offices in the former Sewell Jewelry building at 113 N. First St.

The group heard from Michael Patton, of the Tulsa-based Metropolitan Environmental Trust, which operates 12 community recycling centers.

“The biggest thing we learned is it’s expensive to do and you don’t make any money on it,” said Ward 3 City Councilor John Browne. However, the group also learned that it can be done.

Among those attending the meeting were representatives from the Wal-mart Supercenter, the McAlester Economic Development Service, the Girl Scouts, the Bethel Baptist Church, KI BOIS Community Action and the Oklahoma State University Extension Center, as well as the city of McAlester and Pride in McAlester.

McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddle called the Tuesday night meeting an excellent first step.

“This is something that we really need to do and do the right way,” Priddle said.

The mayor anticipates the city participating in the recycling effort.

“Certainly, we’ll be involved in whatever manner we need to be,” Priddle said. “I think the main push will be by Pride in McAlester.”

Priddle noted that the city council has shown its support of Pride in McAlester by upgrading funding for the group, which is dedicated to cleaning up McAlester, from $5,000 to $60,000 for the 2009-1010 Fiscal Year which begins today.

“If they need some help from the city, I don’t foresee any of our councilmen having a problem with it,” Priddle said.

The next meeting for those interested in the recycling effort has not yet been set. Browne said the group plans assimilate the information already gathered and perhaps have a few individuals take a road trip to see how recycling efforts are being carried out in other cities.

Another plan is to start an education process to get city residents into a recycling frame of mind.

“Our big hurdle is to cut overhead as much as possible,” Browne said. “It’s like starting a small business.”

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.