MRF Glass Used as Alternative Daily Cover

July 12, 2023

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has released a report that reveals data about post-consumer recycled glass containers being used at landfills in the Northeast states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) and Quebec. NERC’s Glass Committee compiled the Recycled Glass Used as Alternative Daily Cover in the Northeast US & Quebec Report to get a better understanding of the volume of recycled glass containers coming out of Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) that never reach manufacturers for making new products, but are instead used as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC)—cover material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operating day.

“The Report provides great insight into MRF glass that is not reaching manufacturers for making new products and is instead being used at landfills—the lowest value end use with the least environmental benefits,” said Mary Ann Remolador, Assistant Director of NERC and Glass Committee staff lead.

One of the key findings is that 75% of the states/province reported that post-consumer glass collected for recycling is being used as ADC. These states include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Quebec. The glass being used for ADC includes crushed recycled glass that is broken into pieces too small for manufacturers to use in their processing, non-bottle bill glass, and glass meeting the state’s specifications for ADC. The states not using glass for ADC are Delaware, Maryland, and Vermont. 

One of the contributing factors for glass being used as ADC is the poor quality of glass coming from MRFs. It is oftentimes considered too dirty or contaminated for use in manufacturing. The contamination is due to the glass being mixed with other recyclables at the MRFs. In addition, many Northeast US MRFs aren’t equipped with the necessary systems for removing glass at the beginning of the sorting line. This contamination adds weight to the glass, which makes the cost of shipping long distances impractical.   

The Northeast US also lacks enough beneficiation facilities that accept MRF glass to serve the entire region. Beneficiators clean and process glass, making it into a feedstock for manufacturers. Without these facilities, the region’s contaminated MRF glass has no viable market within a practical shipping range. As a result, many MRFs are sending their separated glass to landfills for ADC.

Another key finding from the report is that only 58% of the states/province have data about the tonnage of MRF glass used as ADC. These include Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Quebec. 

Additionally, 76% do not recognize post-consumer glass used for ADC as recycling (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Quebec), and 83% require post-consumer glass to be recycled. Maryland and New Hampshire do not require it.   Also, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont (25%) are the only states/province that have post-consumer glass disposal bans.

The report also shows that transparency with the public about what happens with post-consumer glass could be improved in most states. While some states take a proactive approach to ensuring end uses for recycled material are publicly available, others do not readily share this information. 

After a thorough analysis of the compiled information, NERC and its Glass Committee drew the following conclusions:

  • Until more investment is made in the glass recycling infrastructure, MRF glass will continue be used as ADC.
  • Without having consistent outgoing materials reporting requirements for MRFs, it’s impossible to generate data about the total tonnage of recycled glass diverted for use as ADC in the Northeast region.
  • More beneficiation facilities capable of cleaning MRF glass are needed throughout the region to make the glass economical for use as a manufacturing feedstock.

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NERC launches hub to promote PCR demand

By Antoinette Smith | Resource Recycling, Inc. • April 15, 2026
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has created a PCR Material Demand Hub to help organizations prioritize purchases of PCR content and help strengthen domestic recycling markets. The site features resources for federal, state and local government procurement, material- and product-specific resources, and certification and standards for recycled content, including: Government procurement directory for recycled content and environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) Downloadable guides to buying products with PCR content, identifying and buying plastic products containing PCR, environmentally preferable purchasing specifications “Green” product directories from the US EPA, APR, SCS Global Services, the Environmental Paper Network and Intertek Electronics procurement tool for devices containing PCR plastic User manual for the EPA Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Equivalencies calculator The Northeastern US has been hit especially hard by recent closures of PET reclaiming capacity, with fourth-quarter 2025 recycled commodity prices in the region reaching five-year lows . Evergreen Recycling in New York and Ohio, Alpek in Pennsylvania and Phoenix Technologies in Ohio all reduced capacity, citing lackluster demand among the factors. In line with recent short-term and long-term recommendations from industry stakeholders, the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Demand Champions Program outlines three distinct actions to ensure the consistent demand required to scale up the recycling industry: commit to using PCR secure long-term PCR supply agreements expand PCR adoption into non-standard formats or specify PCR in purchased goods APR owns Resource Recycling, Inc., publisher of Plastics Recycling Update. Read article on Resource Recycling.

Envipco

By Sophie Leone • April 13, 2026
As a leader in vending machine technology, Envipco has over four decades of experience providing customized recycling solutions. Envipco was founded on the desire to support and recover material reuse of beverage containers. This founding idea has been their motivation for forty years as they work to help their customers become sustainable and make recycling easier for everyone. Their continuous investment in innovative technology solutions for drink packaging recycling has made them a driving force in the industry. Located worldwide, Envipco offers a wide range of solutions and services. Their versatile range of Reverse Vending Machines are designed to fit in varying environments and are customizable to fit seamlessly into their surroundings. Their smallest machine, the Compact, accepts PET bottles and cans and is ideal for a location that processes less than 400 containers per day. On the higher end, their largest machine, the Quantum, accepts containers in bulk and is capable of processing over 100 containers per minute. “At Envipco, our mission has always been to make recycling easier, more accessible, and more effective. We’re proud to join NERC and work alongside organizations that share our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and a cleaner future.” Tina Bergers, VP Americas, Envipco NERC is excited to welcome Envipco to our international base of members. We look forward to supporting their vision for a cleaner world for future generations. For more information on Envipco visit.

Maryland PaintCare Program Becomes 13th State-Wide Paint Recycling Program

By PaintCare • March 31, 2026
Marylanders can now recycle their leftover paint with PaintCare ! PaintCare is a nonprofit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that have passed the paint stewardship law. The Maryland PaintCare program launched on April 1, 2026, making it the thirteenth jurisdiction to pass paint stewardship legislation. With the addition of Maryland, PaintCare now serves one-third of the U.S. population. PaintCare operates a network of over 100 drop-off sites across the state where households and businesses can recycle their leftover paint at no additional cost. Most drop-off sites are located at local paint retailers, making it convenient for Marylanders to responsibly dispose of their leftover paint. To find a drop-off site near you, visit the drop-off site locator on PaintCare’s website. PaintCare offers a large volume pickup (LVP) service, which provides free pickups of 100 gallons or more of eligible paint products. Those with large quantities of paint are encouraged to use this service to responsibly dispose of leftover paint. Large volume pickups can be requested through the large volume pickup request form. The paint stewardship law requires a fee, called the PaintCare fee, to be added to the purchase price of new paint. The fee is based on container size and funds all aspects of the program. This includes paint collection and recycling, consumer education, and program administration. The PaintCare fee in Maryland is as follows: