Rural Oklahoma, green ignorant!!!

I've lived in Altus Oklahoma for over 12 years now. It has never had a recycle program during this time. So I've tried to find out why or at least get some interest started to get a more "green" environment thinking.

I contacted the local school superintendent via e-mail thinking that if they were to get the kids in school interested in recycling. They in turn would get the parents involved and than the city would have to follow. But I got no response from the school superintendant. So I e-mailed the mayor asking about a recycling program for the city of Altus. (POP. about 21,000) I did get a response from him. That basically said. There is lots of land avaiilable for more land fills and it wasn't economical for the city.

What a bunch of crap!! I guess he doesn't realize that this part of Oklahoma sits on top of the largest aquafirs in the world. But I'm not really surprised considering the education system in Oklahoma. So all of the polution generated from the land fill is seeping into the aquafir.
How do I make a bigger impression on these people?