Do you recycle glass?

[kim21]

We have always recycled our glass items, curbside, along with paper, cans, and plastic. Our community has recently discontinued the recycling of all glass items. The Public Works Department rep states that the costs are too high and so, they are opting out of glass recycling. I asked about drop off locations and was directed to a recycling center that is over an hour away from our home.

Is this a trend in other areas too, to refrain from recycling glass? Do you recycle glass in your community?

[slknight]

Yes, we do recycle glass here. We have a very extensive recycling program though (including plastics 1-7) because we have a pay-as-you-throw trash program.

[TKay]

We do recycle glass. I'm surprised by your town's plan. That's the first I've heard of anything like that. What a drag.

[Meganator]

Our area recently discontinued glass recycling also. We don't use a lot of glass, so usually we put our empties in the office recycling box. We keep a box in the office kitchen, and one of the people (who lives in a different area) takes it home for recycling. She was also kind enough to cart home a 39-gallon trash bag of beer bottles generated by a party we had last weekend :rolleyes: (DH did offer to take it directly to her house).

Sometime in the next couple of years we are going to be annexed by the City of Austin, so I think we will be on their solid waste services then. So we will be able to do glass and corrugated cardboard (all those Costco boxes! :) ), which we can't now. Still only #1 and #2 plastics, though. :mad:

[bobmark226]

We do recycle glass. I'm surprised by your town's plan. That's the first I've heard of anything like that. What a drag.

Actually, it's becoming more and more common because of the expense.

I just read a news item that said that many beer manufacturers, microbreweries, etc. are switching from bottles to cans for this very reason --the cost of recycling glass.

Bob

[leightx]

Here's what we can recycle:

Newspaper – Placed in or beneath bin in a plastic bag so that paper cannot blow out. It is not necessary to remove inserts. NO wet newspaper, mail or office paper.

Plastics – Plastic drink jugs only. Please rinse and drain completely. Remove caps and rings and flatten. NO detergent, bleach, oil or antifreeze bottles.

Cans – Rinse and drain completely. NO aerosol cans of any type.

Glass – Glass food & beverage containers of all colors, rinsed and drained completely. Remove caps and lids. NO ceramic, Pyrex, window or plate glass.

Absolutely no hazardous materials of any kind will be accepted.

I'm not sure what "plastic drink jugs" covers, but we throw water bottles and such in there. I wish they recycled more plastics. :(

[Canice]

Glass is definitely accepted, and I doubt it will change, on account of the county mandates on non-landfill refuse.

[scout1222]

We have a recycle bin in our condo complex and NO, it doesn't accept glass. Because I am lazy, I don't actually take the glass anywhere, but I think there are a few places that will accept it.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Our community doesn't have a recycling service, so I researched what would be most and least beneficial to recycle since I would be taking all myself to the nearest recycling center. Anyway, I decided AGAINST recycling glass because it takes a huge amount of heat to recycle it.

[gabbyh]

We do...and we love that LOUD tinkle, tinkle, tinkle as the bin gets emptied of the weeks beer and wine bottles very early Monday AM:D

~Gail

[lindrusso]

Yes, they still recycle glass here.

Interesting about the beer bottles. I prefer beer out of a bottle rather than a can. I wonder if they could use plastic bottles for beer? That way they could avoid the high cost of recycling glass, but also avoid the taste of beer from a can.

[lindrusso]

We do...and we love that LOUD tinkle, tinkle, tinkle as the bin gets emptied of the weeks beer and wine bottles very early Monday AM:D

Um, I'm a little embarrassed when I got to the recycling center (we're out from town, so we take it in ourselves). We have a bad habit of letting it sit for weeks and THEN we go dump all of our beer bottles and wine bottles. :o :o

[SusanMac]

Yes, we recycle everything curbside in our city. Use to just be glass, so we took paper to a dropoff site. Now it's much easier. Our recycle bin is often more full than our garbage!

Yuck -- I also hate the beer can taste.

[SDMomChef]

We can't recycle glass in our community either. :mad:

[EllenL]

We're still recycling glass. I have the same thoughts you do, Lindrusso, when we bring several weeks of recycling in and there's lots (I guess it's all relative) of beer and wine bottles. I wonder what the workers think---but most of them are doing community service work mandated by the courts for crimes, so maybe they're not passing judgment.

In Georgia, we have a horrible drought, so I wonder if I'm actually helping the environment by washing out all the stuff to keep it in the garage and not get ants and then recycle it, or if it wouldn't be better to save water and just throw the stuff away? Any opinions?

[Meganator]

Yes, they still recycle glass here.

Interesting about the beer bottles. I prefer beer out of a bottle rather than a can. I wonder if they could use plastic bottles for beer? That way they could avoid the high cost of recycling glass, but also avoid the taste of beer from a can.

I've seen ballpark beers in plastic bottles.

[gabbyh]

Um, I'm a little embarrassed when I got to the recycling center (we're out from town, so we take it in ourselves). We have a bad habit of letting it sit for weeks and THEN we go dump all of our beer bottles and wine bottles. :o :o

I don't get embarrassed anymore...I just figure if anyone ever says anything, I'll just tell them I'm married to an Aussie:D

~Gail

[kim21]

Thanks for all of your responses. I had not seen the news bit, Bob, and it saddens me greatly that this is becoming more and more common. I've not researched the expenses of recycling glass, including energy costs= heat, etc.

I live in one of the most populated counties in the country, and so, it pains me greatly to have to throw this glass into the garbage, knowing that it will end up in a landfill. I reuse glass jars to store nonperishables...beans, dried fruit, different sugars, rice, etc.; in fact my friends affectionately mock my array of glass jars...although they secretly like the look and organization of it, as it beats their medley of boxes, twist-tied plastic bags, etc :p

I am an active free-cycler and am very conscientious about the trash that I generate. So, I may have to do a little research and then let my voice be heard!

Thanks again, Kim

[FruitsAlive]

I just read a news item that said that many beer manufacturers, microbreweries, etc. are switching from bottles to cans...

Bob


Say it ain't so! I guess I'll have to save the environment by getting my own tap.

--BTW, I recycle my glass.

[Kathy B]

Wow, I feel really fortunate after reading your posts. Our recycling center takes all kinds of stuff....including glass.

In addition to the usual plastic, newspapers, cans, glass and cardboard, they accept:

paperboard (includint phone books)
aluminum
batteries
toner cartridges
scrap metal
old tennis shoes (these are either used for asphalt or sent to third world countries depending on the condition they are in)
styrofoam blocks/peanuts

They also have a bin for used clothing that is sent to a thrift store for BB/BS, and a section where people often leave canning jars for anyone to take.

[Gumbeaux]

Here's what we can recycle:

Newspaper – Placed in or beneath bin in a plastic bag so that paper cannot blow out. It is not necessary to remove inserts. NO wet newspaper, mail or office paper.

Plastics – Plastic drink jugs only. Please rinse and drain completely. Remove caps and rings and flatten. NO detergent, bleach, oil or antifreeze bottles.

Cans – Rinse and drain completely. NO aerosol cans of any type.

Glass – Glass food & beverage containers of all colors, rinsed and drained completely. Remove caps and lids. NO ceramic, Pyrex, window or plate glass.

Absolutely no hazardous materials of any kind will be accepted.

I'm not sure what "plastic drink jugs" covers, but we throw water bottles and such in there. I wish they recycled more plastics. :(

Our city accepts hazmat waste once a year at a designated drive-thru collection site. Some of the things that are collected include: oil, tires, batteries, ammunition, pesticides, old paint, solvents, computers and cell phones.

Personally, I think it is more important for communities to accept these items rather than items that are routinely recycled such glass, paper, plastic, etc.

[leightx]

I think we have something similar Gumbeaux - they just don't want you putting it in the recycling bin...

[kim21]

Originally posted by Gumbeaux
Our city accepts hazmat waste once a year at a designated drive-thru collection site. Some of the things that are collected include: oil, tires, batteries, ammunition, pesticides, old paint, solvents, computers and cell phones.

Personally, I think it is more important for communities to accept these items rather than items that are routinely recycled such glass, paper, plastic, etc.

Our PW Dept just had the HazMat collection this past weekend. I was so impressed by the drive thru system that they had set up. I was equally impressed by the oodles of citizens who were there with their hazardous materials.

I guess this is what I find alarming and disheartening, Gumbeaux, routine recycling of glass has been the norm...and now it is being discontinued. I'm going to call some of the neighboring counties to see if they have a drop off that's a little closer.

Best wishes, Kim