Glass Packaging Institute

October 23, 2023

We are pleased to welcome The Glass Packing Institute as a new Supporting Advisory Members to Northeast Recycling Council

Formed in August 2017, NERC’s Glass Committee seeks to better understand the recycled glass value chain and gaps in the Northeast, and to promote greater diversion of glass containers to the highest-value end uses. Despite the fact that glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality, challenges to the use of recycled glass exist. The weight of recycled glass presents challenges to transport over distances. In addition, debate continues over preference for extended producer responsibility (EPR) or bottle bills, although efforts are being made to reconcile the two approaches. A NERC webinar held in the Spring concluded that “bottle deposit systems and extended producer responsibility programs for packaging can complement each other, but need to be run effectively.”


With these opportunities and challenges in mind, NERC enthusiastically welcomes the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) to its growing roster of Sustaining Advisory Members. According to GPI President Scott DeFife, “We are the national trade association representing glass container manufacturers, glass recyclers and their supply chain partners in North America.”


“We support efforts to expand collection of glass containers and increase recycling rates of glass across the country,” DeFife notes. “We have successfully begun several initiatives in various areas to collect more glass from the hospitality sector, as well as supporting expansion and modernization of deposit return systems and extended producer responsibility programs that improve recycling.”


The positive impact of GPI’s membership has been felt quickly, as DeFife commented on the Glass Committee’s most recent report, which found that three-quarters of Northeast states use recycled glass as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), instead of being used to manufacture new products. ADC is glass used as cover material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill.


“For years, GPI has been working to make policymakers and recycling stakeholders aware of this ongoing challenge, and we thank NERC for highlighting this issue,” DeFife stated. “GPI agrees with the report’s conclusion that more investment in glass recycling infrastructure would help decrease material contamination, and increase the volume of quality glass suitable to be recycled into new containers.”


“Local governments and states should re-consider providing any diversion or recycling credits to entities using glass as a landfill cover substitute, or for disposal of glass in any similar manner,” DeFife continued. “ADC should only be allowed after all other end market options for glass sorted by Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are explored.”


Weighing in on the debate over EPR vs. bottle bills, DeFife stated, “There is ample proof that we need more bottle return programs, not fewer. It is in states and communities’ clear and vital interest to pass DRS (deposit return system) legislation, especially those legislatures that are also considering extended producer responsibility programs for packaging. Curbside pickup will remain a recycling staple but must remain supported by proven recycling programs that create higher volumes of cleaner streams of recyclable material.”


In addition to actively advocating for improved glass recycling infrastructure, GPI hosts the Clear Choice Awards (CCA) for glass packaging. The awards highlight “consumer product goods manufacturers who find noteworthy ways to use glass packaging to tell the story of their brand, create glass packaging designs that stand out from others, and help brands meet their sustainability goals,” according to GPI.


The involvement of the nation’s leading trade association in efforts to improve glass recycling is an essential step toward realizing such improvement. NERC looks forward to working further with GPI on our shared goals.of its solutions to the wider community.


For more information about the Glass Packaging Institute click here

Share Post

Maryland webinar gives tips on countering misinformation

By Antoinette Smith • April 1, 2025
In recent years, the recycling industry has seen negative media coverage that has not only perpetuated myths but also contributed to public mistrust of collection and recycling – and ultimately could be contributing to lower collection rates. To help counteract the misinformation, the Maryland Recycling Network presented a March 27 webinar featuring Gretchen Carey, president at MassRecycle, and Chaz Miller of Miller Recycling Associates. Misinformation about recycling was merely “background noise” to Carey until October 2022, when Greenpeace published a scathing report about the failings of plastic recycling. Soon NPR and The Boston Globe picked up the story and compounded the issue with statements like “not even plastic water bottles are recyclable,” Carey said, calling this “a patent lie.” Carey and her colleagues were “crushed,” but after overcoming her initial anger, she reached out to NPR and the Globe to rebut the story. She also tried to get other local publications to publish her written response to the negative coverage but was rebuffed. Seeing that these efforts weren’t going far, MassRecycle invited members of the media and the general public on MRF tours at several sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Providing real-time evidence of recycling infrastructure helped industry outsiders step out of the echo chamber and hear a contrasting perspective, Carey said in the webinar. “You can talk the game, but them seeing for themselves is the important part,” she explained. During the tours, the public attendees learned that throwing away recyclables deprives the community of valuable commodities, she said, and that state guidelines restrict what can be put in the landfill. Carey added that the tours brought home the message by explaining that recycled materials need a consistent end market to justify collection and processing. For example, Ardagh closed its glass bottling facility in Massachusetts in 2018. The closure eliminated a key end market for recycled glass and caused collector Strategic Materials to stop taking local recovered glass. Local MRFs subsequently lost that revenue stream. When residents don’t trust recycling infrastructure, they put fewer items in their curbside bins, and ultimately paper, metals and glass wind up as collateral damage, Miller said. So it’s vital to make sure the public knows where their recyclables and that end markets exist to use these materials. Read the full article.

City of Laurel

By Sophie Leone • March 26, 2025
The City of Laurel, Maryland, established in 1870, has a deep and rich history within the state. Its long-standing independence and stability have fostered a strong sense of community, providing residents with valuable resources and support. Laurel is deeply committed to sustainability, embedding green initiatives into its core values, creating a Sustainability Division and completing the City’s first Sustainability Plan as one of many ways to support a sustainable Laurel community. The city’s mission is guided by four foundational pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. Laurel defines sustainability as “meeting the environmental, social, and economic needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Residents can engage with their community in numerous ways, including joining local clubs, participating in municipal committees, and taking part in community surveys. The city also hosts in-person events such as parades, farmers markets, and sustainability initiatives, further strengthening community bonds. To make waste management, recycling and organics recycling more accessible, Laurel provides detailed information on its dedicated Green Living Resource page found on the City’s website and partners with Recycle Coach, an app that helps residents easily access tailored information on residential collections, recycling and organics recycling. The Recycle Coach app also notifies residents of changes to their service days and special sustainability events. The City of Laurel continues to lead by example in sustainability and community engagement. As environmentalist Wendell Berry once said, “The Earth is what we all have in common.” Laurel’s dedication to green living ensures that future generations will inherit a thriving, sustainable community. NERC is thrilled to welcome the City of Laurel to our growing list of municipality members. We look forward to working with them to help advance our collective missions in safeguarding the planet. For more information on the City of Laurel visit.

Black History Month

February 28, 2025
A Time to Learn, Reflect, and Celebrate
More Posts