Recycling Catching on in Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. - Oxford businesses are catching on to the recycling trend.

One year after curbside recycling was expanded to serve all homes in Oxford, more local businesses are joining the effort.

"Anybody can recycle and we are continuing to expand," said Amberlyn Liles, Oxford-Lafayette Recycling coordinator.

Wednesday is recycling day for local businesses, who no longer have to throw away recycling into the trash or find someone to lug heavy bags to the drop-off locations located around the community.

The city's recycling program has made it easier for businesses by placing cardboard collection receptacles around town.

For instance, businesses on the Square can deposit excess cardboard any day behind the City Grocery restaurant or City Hall.

The standard, smaller recycling bins, like the ones used by residents, are also being used by businesses on the Square and in other commercial center around town.

"They pick up cardboard because the Dumpster is already full," Southland Body Shop owner Jesse Danford said. "That's our reason for recycling -- cardboard takes up so much space in the Dumpster."

Michelle Howard, owner of Treehouse Toys, began recycling at her business after finding that flattening the box and throwing it in the Dumpster costs the city money -- but flattening the box and leaving it on her porch to be picked up on Wednesdays helps the city make money.

"It is ridiculous the amount of boxes we get in on a weekly basis and were throwing in the Dumpster," Howard said. "Amberlyn explained that the city pays to have someone take away the garbage, but they sell the recycled product and make money."

Today, Howard throws out just one or two bags of garbage a week compared to the daily trips to the Dumpster to throw out boxes.

"It cuts down on the city's work as well," Howard said.

Liles said while quite a few businesses have started recycling, others haven't joined the effort.

"A place to store recycling during the week is a problem for a lot of businesses," Liles said. "They want to instantly get rid of it, and that is when they need to use the drop-off locations. The recycling program for businesses and residents is slowly but surely growing, and we appreciate those that have been patient."

For some businesses, such as the bars around the Square, the Wednesday pick up only helps to a point.

Taylor's Pub owner Jason Plunk said his bar has limited space so he usually can't wait for Wednesdays when most of his cardboard waste occurs Thursday through Saturday.

He loads up his vehicle and drives it behind City Hall to recycle, but he has asked the city to consider a third drop-off location behind his business to accommodate several restaurants.

"I think I am the only owner that loads his auto full and takes cardboard behind City Hall," Plunk said. "The door-to-door recycling does help though, but since our busiest times are on the weekends, I don't have anywhere to store the stuff for half a week."