Robert Pickens is the Region Vice President, Midwest at Greenstar Recycling. In this role, he is responsible for all operations in Michigan, Iowa and Oklahoma.

Robert began his recycling career in 1987 with Weyerhaeuser Recycling. He served as operations manager for several Weyerhaeuser Recycling plants throughout the Midwest and later as the Midwest Region Safety & Environmental Manager for two years.

In 1998, Robert joined Mid-America Recycling as the Vice President of Oklahoma Operations and Midwest Region Manager after the acquisition of Vista Fibers in 2005.  Mid-America was later acquired by Greenstar Recycling.

Robert's role in the development of midwest recycling has been expansive.  In Des Moines, he helped to launch the first single stream recycling system in Iowa - increasing the processing capacity by five times its previous limits. In Oklahoma, he introduced additional container and fiber commodities to the City of Tulsa's dual stream curbside program, resulting in a 60% increase per month in volume in less than two years. Working with a local Oklahoma City hauler, Robert worked to introduce single stream curbside recycling to the City of Ada and worked to provide Oklahoma City's only community drop-off recycling center within city limits. 

Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Robert is active in regional recycling organizations and other community events.  He is an Executive Committee Board Member of the Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA), member of Oklahoma Green Schools, member of the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Solid Waste Management Association (NSWMA) and member of Sustainable Tulsa.

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