ARDMORE, OK -- Ardmore residents were discussing garbage over lunch on Tuesday at the Ardmore Convention Center.

It may sound less than appetizing, but for the dozens who attended, recycling was the main course at Tuesday's forum.

"There's no gold in the garbage, but in many circumstances it is cheaper to recycle than it is to pay to throw it away,” Dr. Fenton Rood with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality says.

Dr. Rood is a garbage expert. One of his specialties is recycling.

"Over 50 percent of Oklahomans have access to some type of recycling service, and the piece that most people don't understand also is it is big business for Oklahoma because we have 19 major manufacturers who need recycled materials to make their products."

Dr. Fenton sat on a panel Tuesday at the Ardmore Convention Center moderated by State Representative Greg Piatt. It was a good, old fashioned question and answer session.

If attendance is any indication, it would seem that a lot of people in Ardmore are interested in turning their garbage into something more useful.

"I think it was incredible what kind of turnout you had today, and I mentioned to the group I said we meet here every other week during Legislative Session, and the group isn't nearly this large on issues that effect the whole state, as well as us," Representative Greg Piatt said.

The burning question on the minds of many is whether Ardmore will ever enjoy a curbside recycling program.

Norma Lynne Paschall of the Ardmore Beautification Council says it all comes down to money.

"I would like to think that it wouldn't take us over five years to come to that point. We've got to work with our city. It's going to be an expense for the local taxpayer, but I think we can all come to a common ground and find an answer that will work for Ardmore."

City commissioner Bob Geurin says while it will cost money, a curbside recycling program is something the city wants to pursue if residents are willing to pay.

"No doubt there are some costs involved in doing this and it's really about what the people in the community want and how they want to spend their money, but again, it is the right thing to do," Geurin says.

"I know that Ada has a very effective program that is operated by the city," Dr. Rood also said.

So what can you do today to get in on the recycling effort?

-Buy things made form recycled materials.

-Take your own canvas sack to the store, instead of accepting the plastic shop bag

-Use the drop-off bins around town

Want more information on recycling? Check out KXII’s new Green Page at http://www.kxii.com/green