Nichols Hills To Close Recycling Center

The City of Nichols Hill is closing its recycling center, forcing more than 4,000 people to find new ways to stay environmentally friendly.

The center is small but very popular.

"I recycle everything I possibly can," Nichols Hills resident Jane Puls said.

Come Jan. 31, the recycling center near Wilshire and Western will close. The city says keeping it open is not cost effective.

"About $40,000 to $50,000 a year [is what] it was costing our city, and we weren't getting the intended benefits of the recycling," Nichols Hills mayor Peter Hoffman said.

Residents have mixed reactions.

"I'm not very happy about it," resident Jack Baker said. "I'm [at the center] at least once a month."

The city says residents can still drop off recycled waste at nearby Goodwill Industries locations. Also, residents can take advantage of recycling pickup offered by a private contractor, but that's going to cost more money.

"We're already paying for [the recycling center], so if we're going to have to pay a little more for another [service] then you would think one would offset the other," resident Philip Ferguson said.

It's important to note that home-side pickup in Nichols Hills is just that. The city does not allow residents to put containers of cans and paper on the curb.

The city says another reason it is closing the facility is because too many businesses and non-residents were dumping trash at the location. City officials say they have been experiencing issues with the recycling center for several years.