For years, locals worked to bring recycling options to the community. In time, most of those efforts proved unsuccessful; however, Kris Wyatt harnessed her passion and found a partner in Mark Armen of Replenysh, Inc. (Replenysh) for a long-term, no-cost recycling program. As a result, the community held its first recycling event on February 27 of this year. Since then, the local effort has more than doubled the amount of material being collected from the community.
For those unfamiliar with Replenysh, its recycling programs utilize what the company terms a “circular economy.” Basically, Replenysh identifies companies interested in recycling and connects them with their customer bases in communities to make, sell, and buy product.
Once companies join the network, they tell Replenysh what recyclable materials they need and will buy to create their products. Initially, the companies make and sell their products to consumers. After purchase and use of those products, consumers participating in Replenysh recycling networks ask Replenysh what materials the companies need and will buy, subsequently collecting those specific materials and selling them back to the companies. The sales result in financial gains for the community.
All money raised from selling the recycled materials pays for expenses incurred in transporting the collected materials to the point-of-sale. Remaining profits serve as a donation to a local charity of the community’s choosing. In this way, Replenysh forms a “circular economy” within its recycling networks of create, sell, buy, repeat for companies and of buy, collect, sell, charitably invest locally, repeat for communities.
In the four months since its first collection event, the Bristow Replenysh Network has held nine total events, collecting a total of 31,346 pounds or 15.673 tons of recyclable materials. Despite the April fire at the Tulsa Recycling Center temporarily preventing some of those materials being sold, the remaining sales resulted in a total of $986 being raised and donated to Bristow Social Services to date.
The community’s immediate and growing impactful response prompted Replenysh to partner with locals in setting up more permanent drop-off locations for recyclable materials. Each location differs in hours and items accepted. As of the time of print, three locals have offered their locations and agreed to host longterm drop-off receptacles for anyone wishing to recycle:
• C&J Mercantile at 36921 West OK 66 accepts glass, aluminum cans, and PETE 1 and HDPE 2 plastics on Tuesdays thru Fridays from 10 to 5 and on Saturdays from 9 to 1.
• The First Church of God at 320 South Walnut Street accepts both PETE 1 and HDPE 2 plastics on Mondays from 10 to noon.
• A local family at 1412 South Hickory Street accepts aluminum cans, steel cans, and PETE 1 and HDPE 2 plastics seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Local organizers and volunteers, host sites, and Replenysh, Inc. respectfully request and strongly advise that all materials collected for drop-off be sorted in advance to ensure buyers continue to purchase the community’s materials now and in the future. Contaminated materials submitted for purchase may be rejected or purchased for a reduced price.
In addition to the three permanent collection sites, local business Energy Efficient Insulation donated barrels with lids to the Bristow network for use at events. The barrels will be utilized at community events for the collection of aluminum cans and plastic bottles. In fact, Kris Wyatt ensured that barrels were placed at the park before last Saturday’s Fourth of July celebration. Collection results of their use were not available at the time of writing.
Finally, for those who prefer dropping collections at Edison Elementary during events, the next event is scheduled for this Saturday, July 10th, from 9 to 11:30. Unlike past events, profits from this collection event will benefit Bristow Barnyard. To learn more or stay updated, join the Bristow network at https://replenysh.com/join/bristow-ok.