Check out this helpful information on recycling myths.
1. Myth: Everything with a recycling symbol is recyclable.
Fact: The symbol shows material type, not what your local facility accepts.
2. Myth: It’s okay to guess what’s recyclable — “wishcycling” helps.
Fact: Guesswork often leads to contamination; non-recyclables can spoil batches.
3. Myth: Recyclables don’t need cleaning.
Fact: Quick rinsing (removing food/liquid) is enough — major residue causes issues.
4. Myth: Recycling uses more energy/resources than it saves.
Fact: Recycled aluminum, steel, paper, etc., require far less energy than producing from virgin materials.
5. Myth: Paper/box soiled with food (like pizza boxes) can’t be recycled at all.
Fact: The clean parts often are recyclable; just remove or discard greasy bits.
6. Myth: All plastics are recyclable if they have a number code.
Fact: Many plastic types are not accepted locally; markets, facility capability, and the type of plastic matter.
7. Myth: Compostable/biodegradable items can go in recycling.
Fact: These often require special composting, and mixing them with recyclables can cause contamination.
8. Myth: All glass (cookware, light bulbs, etc.) is recycled like bottles.
Fact: Specialty glass often has diperent melting points or materials and isn’t accepted in regular glass recycling.
9. Myth: If something isn’t accepted curbside, it’s not recyclable anywhere.
Fact: There are drop-op or special recycling programs for items not handled curbside.
10. Myth: Recycling eports don’t make a diperence.
Fact: Recycling saves energy, reduces greenhouse gases, conserves resources, and creates jobs — small actions add up.
The Shawnee Tribe’s Behavioral Health Program is providing information in January for Stalking Awareness Month. Stalking is a serious and often misunderstood form of victimization. It involves a pattern of behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or experience significant emotional distress. Stalking is not rare, and it is not […]
Tire recycling (or rubber recycling) is the process of collecting worn-out tires and reprocessing them into useful materials instead of letting them take up space in landfills. Because tires are durable and don’t break down easily, recycling them protects the environment, reduces fire risks, and eliminates potential mosquito-breeding sites in improperly disposed tire piles. Common […]
For many people, the holiday season brings connection, celebration, and routine changes. But for survivors of domestic violence or past trauma, this time of year can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. Increased stress, family expectations, and sensory triggers can intensify anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD. Holiday environments can activate the brain’s trauma pathways. Sensory […]
Common E-Waste Items: Why does it matter? Key Facts: Sources: World Health Organization
On Saturday, September 20, during the Annual Meeting of the Tribal Council, former Shawnee Chief Ron Sparkman gave a history and retrospective. In 2019, the Business Council gave Sparkman the title of Ambassador to the Shawnee Tribe. He served as Chief from 2001 to 2019. “We have come a long, long way,” said Ambassador Sparkman. […]
WHY SHOULD I RECYCLE? HOW DO I RECYCLE? Sources: earth911.com
by A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack The original mouth of the Scioto River, in what is now southern Ohio, is far from Oklahoma. So far, perhaps, it has been forgotten. But important events in Shawnee history—in the mid-1700s and thousands of years earlier—took place there. Two painted panels on Portsmouth, Ohio’s floodwall highlight its […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MIAMI, OK — The Shawnee Tribe has declared a state of emergency and released emergency funds to assist citizens who may lose access to food assistance following the federal government’s suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the Tribe on October 22 that SNAP operations will […]