April 4, 2017
Personally, I love glass. Glassmaking was invented by the Egyptians, and the first objects made entirely of glass date back to 2500 BC. Industrial manufacturing of glass in the mid-1800s allowed for standardized glass bottle production. I mean no offense to beer makers that use aluminum cans, but I prefer my beer in a glass bottle; ditto on wine and liquor. And according to the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), used glass containers can be recycled endlessly, resulting in significant environmental benefits and energy savings.
Up until the last couple of years, glass was a common recyclable in curbside programs, although it has always been a relatively low-value recyclable commodity with limited markets. In the turbulent scrap markets of the past few years, the value of recycled glass has suffered a further downturn, as has most other recyclables. With the rise of single-stream collection, glass is now being mixed (and broken) with a variety of other materials. As a result, glass is contaminating recycled paper.
The more technically advanced recycling facilities as that owned by Rumpke Recycling in Ohio (discussed below), separates the glass first from the rest of the single stream materials. This allows them to process the glass more efficiently. Rumpke also processes the glass further by removing most paper and metals from the bottles. This allows Rumpke to produce a quality cullet that can be readily used by glass bottle and insulation manufacturers.
Communities across the country are weighing the costs and benefits of glass recycling. Some high-profile cities have stopped collecting glass at the curb, including Houston, Greenville, S.C., Harrisburg, PA., and Knoxville, TN., to name a few. New Orleans no longer collects glass curbside, but is accepting it at drop-off locations. Other communities are turning to drop-off glass collection as well. In Portland, Oregon, glass is collected at the curb, but separate from other single-stream materials.
The Glass Recycling Coalition has brought together materials management companies, major glass users (such as brewing companies and insulation manufacturers), glass processors, and others to help solve some of the issues around glass recycling. GRC’s mission is to “collaborate throughout the supply chain to make glass recycling work by supporting the most accessible and viable glass recovery and recycling options for consumers, encouraging financially sustainable mechanisms that produce quality cullet (recycled glass), and strengthening glass markets.”
The Coalition offers a number of tools, including best practices for collection and processing, case studies, options for making informed decisions about glass in recycling programs, and more. The most recent tool released is the Recycling Program Considerations. The online tool assists communities in making informed decisions about glass in recycling programs.
NERC partnered with the Coalition on a recent webinar, “Partnerships to Make Glass Recycling Work”. The webinar provided an overview of glass recycling programs that are successfully handling the commodity.
In Ohio, where historically 90% of glass bottles and containers end up in landfills, an Ohio EPA study determined that there is a need for 275,000 more tons of glass cullet for manufacturing in the state. The Agency recently launched a campaign to increase glass recycling in the state, focusing specifically on glass recycling in restaurants and bars.
The Agency further plans to establish nine regional “Glass Act Recovery Centers” in Ohio, such as at transfer stations or “glass depots”, along with “Glass Act Recycling Drop-offs” at existing recycling drop-off locations. The state is also providing grants to solid waste districts and businesses to better manage glass.
One successful program discussed on the webinar is a public-private partnership between the Ohio EPA and Rumpke Recycling, which linked end users and post-consumer glass generators with the Rumpke, the state’s largest recycler.
According to Ben Pedigo of Rumpke Recycling, glass bottles and jars make up 20 percent of the weight in curbside recycling programs; he advocates that glass is an essential part of any comprehensive recycling program. In addition to educational resources that support clean glass recycling, Rumpke has invested $7 million in a glass beneficiation system at its Dayton, Ohio, operation. The system cleans and sorts glass for use in fiberglass and bottle glass manufacturing. And included in Ohio EPA’s $1 million pledge to increase glass recycling is the purchase of a Clarity Optical Sorter for the Rumpke Glass Plant in Dayton, Ohio.
Rumpke is currently processing 4,000 tons per month of post-consumer glass bottles and jars at its Dayton facility. The operation is equipped to process even more glass, as well.
Ohio EPA believes its efforts will help give Ohio manufacturers a competitive advantage, and provide positive solutions for managing glass around the state.
Part 2 will continue a look at glass recycling success.
By Athena Lee Bradley
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