Transcript Staff Writer

City workers will pick up and move Norman's eastside recycling center late this afternoon to the Cleveland County fairgrounds. It's planned to be open for business Saturday.

The center had been open temporarily at Griffin Community Park.

"Yahoo," said Ken Komiske, Norman utilities director. "We have work to do yet -- we don't have lights in yet or trees."

The City's public works department laid a concrete pad on the west side of the fairgrounds at 601 E. Robinson St.

"It's a nice big pad," Komiske said. "And we'd like to extend our appreciation to the county. It's a good partnership."

Komiske said recycling is a natural fit with the county's efforts including the Cleveland County Master Gardeners and Farmers' Market.

The center will take the same products it's taken before: cardboard, clear and colored glass, No. 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum and steel cans, newspaper and mixed paper.

"We love cardboard," Komiske said. Cardboard is not picked up with curbside recycling and the City makes a higher profit off the recycling material.

He said the Griffin site had done well as a temporary recycling site, but with athletic activities at the park, every parking spot is at a premium during ball games.

Komiske said the new recycling location is easy to see from the street.

"It's west of where Touch a Truck was," he said.

City crews will visit the center daily to take care of it and empty containers.

About 18 trees will be planted as a buffer.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com