Michael Patton's ARD Speech

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY SPEECH
11/15/02

We’re gathered here for our annual celebration known through out the country as America Recycles Day. This banquet is part of thousands of activities today by American citizens who have dedicated themselves as good stewards of all our natural resources.

Recycling is the easiest thing a person can do to help protect our planet. Recycling enjoys bipartisan support: Conservatives embrace the jobs that are created and Liberals praise the individual effort for problem-solution. The honorees tonight are great examples of contributions and commitment to recycling. Each of our three honorees are a great inspiration to me and others for their recycling efforts.

Why do we have America Recycles Day… don’t we already have Earth Day? I say that…. “Us recyclers don’t share very well!” We need our own day because our cause is way more important than just environmental. Yes, recycling aluminum cans, newspaper and bottles helps to reduce the amount of waste we produce but recycling is also “wise-use” of resources and seeing opportunity and value in simple things that many people throw away.

One of the first things that we want to talk about today is the release of a study completed in September by Oklahoma State University and The M.e.t. We though that recycling created a lot of jobs for Oklahoma and we wanted to have a research project to find out how many. We identified 17 manufacturers of products made from recycled material in the Sate of Oklahoma and sent theses companies a survey asking them delicate information about number of jobs, payroll, etc. These 17 manufacturers alone accounted for over 2,000 employees and another 3,000 indirect jobs. You may know some of them - they are vital to northeast Oklahoma’s economy such as: the largest employee in Muskogee, the Georgia pacific paper plant; the largest employer in Sapulpa, the Ball-Foster Glass Plant: the largest employer is Sand Springs, Sheffield Steel. These recycling companies offer unbelievable economic benefit and translate into jobs for our State.

Here at The M.e.t. we have a full time staff of only four, but our contracts for employment through some of the sheltered workshop agency, like Gatesway and Show result in almost 100 jobs. The majority of which are for persons with disabilities which is sometimes some of the hardest jobs to create. If there is one incentive to recycle in Oklahoma is because we need the jobs and recycling is big business for us.

Recycling is also a volunteer effort in Oklahoma. While some states have experienced a landfill space crisis and have been forced to recycle, Oklahoma has lots of wide open space and will probably not face a trash crisis for quite a while. The people at this banquet who support recycling are all volunteer recyclers when items could be easily thrown away. The number of volunteers is a very impressive. Over 8,000 households in Tulsa, Sapulpa and Skiatook pay a little extra to have someone come and pick up recyclables at the curb. Over 25,000 families faithfully take their recyclables to an area M.e.t. drop-off center. Over 800 businesses in Tulsa alone voluntarily separate the cardboard and office paper for recycling and now over 200 plus churches and schools are recycling through a free program offered by Abitivi. Recycling truly is the greatest volunteer effort in Tulsa.

President Bush in a proclamation sealed yesterday for release today said this statement, “On America Recycles Day, I encourage all Americans rededicate themselves to using our resources more wisely by reusing and recycling the materials they purchase. Through these efforts, we help make our communities more livable, our businesses more competitive, and our Nation a healthier place for future generations to enjoy.

This awards banquet made possible by the sponsors and hard work of The M.e.t. staff is intended to honor three great examples of recycling. As we bring each of them up, I want to give them each a couple of minutes to say something about recycling and their commitment. Lets leave here tonight filled with a new vigor from their shining examples. America Recycles Day is like any holiday - a chance for us to give a speech, get together, and celebrate the work of good examples found in this room. Happy America Recycles Day and again, thank you sponsors for helping us to honor these deserving individuals.

	AMERICA RECYCLES DAY SPEECH 11/15/02 We’re gathered here for our annual celebration known through out the country as America Recycles Day. This banquet is part of thousands of activities today by American citizens who have dedicated themselves as good stewards of all our natural resources. Recycling is the easiest thing a person can do to help protect our planet. Recycling enjoys bipartisan support: Conservatives embrace the jobs that are created and Liberals praise the individual effort for problem-solution. The honorees tonight are great examples of contributions and commitment to recycling. Each of our three honorees are a great inspiration to me and others for their recycling efforts. Why do we have America Recycles Day… don’t we already have Earth Day? I say that…. “Us recyclers don’t share very well!” We need our own day because our cause is way more important than just environmental. Yes, recycling aluminum cans, newspaper and bottles helps to reduce the amount of waste we produce but recycling is also “wise-use” of resources and seeing opportunity and value in simple things that many people throw away. One of the first things that we want to talk about today is the release of a study completed in September by Oklahoma State University and The M.e.t. We though that recycling created a lot of jobs for Oklahoma and we wanted to have a research project to find out how many. We identified 17 manufacturers of products made from recycled material in the Sate of Oklahoma and sent theses companies a survey asking them delicate information about number of jobs, payroll, etc. These 17 manufacturers alone accounted for over 2,000 employees and another 3,000 indirect jobs. You may know some of them - they are vital to northeast Oklahoma’s economy such as: the largest employee in Muskogee, the Georgia pacific paper plant; the largest employer in Sapulpa, the Ball-Foster Glass Plant: the largest employer is Sand Springs, Sheffield Steel. These recycling companies offer unbelievable economic benefit and translate into jobs for our State. Here at The M.e.t. we have a full time staff of only four, but our contracts for employment through some of the sheltered workshop agency, like Gatesway and Show result in almost 100 jobs. The majority of which are for persons with disabilities which is sometimes some of the hardest jobs to create. If there is one incentive to recycle in Oklahoma is because we need the jobs and recycling is big business for us. Recycling is also a volunteer effort in Oklahoma. While some states have experienced a landfill space crisis and have been forced to recycle, Oklahoma has lots of wide open space and will probably not face a trash crisis for quite a while. The people at this banquet who support recycling are all volunteer recyclers when items could be easily thrown away. The number of volunteers is a very impressive. Over 8,000 households in Tulsa, Sapulpa and Skiatook pay a little extra to have someone come and pick up recyclables at the curb. Over 25,000 families faithfully take their recyclables to an area M.e.t. drop-off center. Over 800 businesses in Tulsa alone voluntarily separate the cardboard and office paper for recycling and now over 200 plus churches and schools are recycling through a free program offered by Abitivi. Recycling truly is the greatest volunteer effort in Tulsa. President Bush in a proclamation sealed yesterday for release today said this statement, “On America Recycles Day, I encourage all Americans rededicate themselves to using our resources more wisely by reusing and recycling the materials they purchase. Through these efforts, we help make our communities more livable, our businesses more competitive, and our Nation a healthier place for future generations to enjoy. This awards banquet made possible by the sponsors and hard work of The M.e.t. staff is intended to honor three great examples of recycling. As we bring each of them up, I want to give them each a couple of minutes to say something about recycling and their commitment. Lets leave here tonight filled with a new vigor from their shining examples. America Recycles Day is like any holiday - a chance for us to give a speech, get together, and celebrate the work of good examples found in this room. Happy America Recycles Day and again, thank you sponsors for helping us to honor these deserving individuals.
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