Refuse collection is one of the primary duties of the Public Works Department. What was the mix of our solid waste stream in 2024?
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Total Material Handled in 2024: 7,287 Tons
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| Material Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Brush/Natural Material | 43.6% |
| Weekly Refuse | 38.4% |
| Co-mingled Recycling | 7.0% |
| Bulk Pickups | 6.7% |
| Cardboard | 2.5% |
| Miscellaneous | 1.8% |
| Scrap Metal | 0.0% |
Each week, refuse, recycling, and bulk pickup crews make over 3,200 residential collections, which equals over 166,000 individual pickups for the year.
On occasion (less than 1% of the time), we miss a pickup. If this happens, please call (937) 298-0777, and we will return as soon as possible. In 2024, we had 561 cases of inaccessible trash. These are times when our refuse crews could not make pickups due to locked garages, cars in the driveway, locked driveway gates, loose dogs, etc.
Do most Oakwood residents participate in our recycling program?
Yes. Oakwood collects recyclables using scooters with divided dump beds – one side for regular trash and the other side for recyclables. Plastics, glass, paper, metal cans, and cardboard, as described below, are to be co-mingled in one or more containers marked as recyclables. All items should be clean and free of food and grease. Please make sure that co-mingled recyclable products are placed loosely in the properly marked container. The items should not be placed in plastic bags unless participating in the Hefty ReNew™ program (orange bags). Free “Recyclables” stickers to mark containers are available at City Hall or at the J.D. Foell Public Works Center.
It is increasingly important that our co-mingled recycling stream contains only recyclable materials. In years past, the guidance was “when in doubt, throw it in the recycling container.” The guidance is now “learn what is recyclable and what is not, but when in doubt, throw it in the regular trash.” The success of recycling and the recycling markets is largely dependent on the quality of the recycling stream. We encourage all Oakwood residents to maximize recycling.
- ACCEPTABLE DISPOSABLE CUPS: Disposable cups made of paper, plastic and aluminum.
- UNACCEPTABLE DISPOSABLE CUP ITEMS: Do NOT include straws; Solo cups (or cups made from polystyrene #6 plastic); Styrofoam; or K-cups.
- ACCEPTABLE PLASTICS: Small containers and bottles with a small mouth and a wider base, such as plastic milk containers, soft drink bottles, jugs, detergent, tubs (butter, sour cream, cottage cheese tubs, yogurt, and fruit cups), water bottles, and shampoo containers. Empty, rinse, and crush.
- UNACCEPTABLE PLASTIC ITEMS: Plastic items without a bottleneck, trays, plastic cutlery, clamshell plastic containers, plastic bags, straws, toothbrushes, coffee cup lids, plastic toys and bikes, plastic buckets, and plastic wrap. Also, foam and polystyrene are presently not recyclable and should be placed in with the regular trash. Please place loose foam packing material in bags before placing it in with your regular trash so that it does not fly out of our refuse scooters and then blow around your neighborhood.
- ACCEPTABLE GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS: All colors of glass bottles and jars. Lids and locking rings should be removed, if possible.
- UNACCEPTABLE GLASS ITEMS: Ceramic and porcelain, drinking glasses, window glass, mirrors, light bulbs and dishware.
- ACCEPTABLE METAL BEVERAGE AND FOOD CANS: Aluminum, steel, bi-metal cans, and empty aerosol cans are recyclable. Lids and tips should be removed.
- UNACCEPTABLE METAL ITEMS: Needles, sharps, medical equipment, metal hangers, metal pots, pans, pipes, and metal wire.
- ACCEPTABLE NEWSPAPERS/PAPER: Newspapers may be co-mingled with all other recyclables. You may also include junk mail, glossy inserts, magazines, catalogs, telephone books, copier paper, and all other clean paper products.
- UNACCEPTABLE PAPER ITEMS: Paper plates, hardbound books, tissues, laminated paper, photos, photo paper or specially treated paper, toilet paper, paper towels, or contaminated items.
- ACCEPTABLE CARDBOARD & CARTONS: Cereal, pasta, cookie and cracker boxes, food, and beverage cartons, gift boxes, mailing tubes, corrugated cardboard, clean pizza boxes, and brown paper bags may be co-mingled with all other recyclables. Please cut or break down boxes and remove plastic items that may be affixed to the cardboard.
PLEASE NOTE: Large quantities of cardboard items should be broken down and taken to the Recycling and Yard Waste Drop-Off Facility at the entrance of the Public Works yard, 210 Shafor Boulevard. The recycling facility accommodates the 24/7/365 drop-off of green waste (yard debris), cardboard, and co-mingled recyclables such as glass, plastics, and metal cans.