The City of Tulsa plans to address increased trash and debris scattered throughout the city.
This is an issue that both residents and the city are trying to do something about through initiatives like the Great Tulsa Cleanup.
The Great Tulsa Cleanup is a community event that has run for more than 20 years.
“Having folks out there helping out with their community beautifying their community by picking up a little bit of litter and seeing you know, our city crews interacting with citizens helping to do that. I think it's a win, win," Stormwater Quality Manager for City of Tulsa Jacob Hagen said.
The cleanup is also mandatory.
“Actually, a requirement by the state of Oklahoma to keep floatable or litter out of our stormwater system, so, that is where this grew out of," said Hagen.
Stormwater management said that last year, about 650 people filled nearly 700 bags with trash.
“Some groups out there are just super adventurous and want to try to get some big bulky items that they find like mattresses or bicycles or strollers, things like that,” Hagen said.
Currently, 334 people have registered to take part in this year’s cleanup.
There are 29 locations around Tulsa that groups can choose for their clean-up project, some of which have been identified by residents.
Stormwater management said recently, litter complaints have increased.
“It's something we're aware, has been had an uptick, and still in the stages of kind of trying to wrap our heads around solutions to it and trying to address those problems there,” Hagen said.
He attributed the increase to the unhoused.
“With the rise in homeless populations, again, litter associated with some of those camps and those activities,” Hagen said. “So, we think that might be a leading contributor, but it's kind of preliminary, to say exactly what the pinpoint source of it all is.”
The City has two full-time employees, as well as more than 20 full-time contractors, whose job is to clean up trash and litter around the city.
Additionally, Tulsa's A Better Way crews and three trash cleanup crews from the Center for Employment Opportunities are tasked with cleaning up trash and litter.
Illegal dumping in Tulsa is a punishable offense with a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time.
Residents are encouraged to report trash in Tulsa through the Customer Care Center, or 311.