“Our research shows that consumers think about the environment when they are making beverage purchases,” said Bob Falkenberg, founder of BeveragePulse.com and president of Alpharetta, Ga based Concept Catalyst. “Specifically, the findings indicate that consumers relate positively to packages that are easy to recycle. Beverage companies should start a full-court press on recycling.” More

The Kansas City Star reports Ripple Glass in Kansas City is on track to exceed its first-year glass bottle collection goals and is already planning updates to its glass processing plant so more beer bottles—the company’s biggest glass recycling commodity—and other glass bottles and jars can be endlessly recycled. The company is also preparing to launch an initiative to collect bottles from bars and restaurants. “About half the glass in the area comes out of bars and restaurants,” said Jeff Krum, Ripple principal and co-founder. “That’s a big, untapped market for us.”

The original goal for Ripple’s first year was 6,500 tons of glass, but the company now hopes that number will be in the 8,000 to 10,000 ton range. Glass bottles and jars are collected at about 70 drop off locations in the metro area. According to Ripple, 8,000 tons would be only about 10% of the glass containers in Kansas City that could be recycled. More

The Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) will hold “Recycling Glass for Value” on September 24th. The event is one of three that WSRA organizes as part of its Washington Recycles Every Day series. These events bring together 60-80 public and private-sector professionals from all over Washington State to discuss serious recycling issues and provide meaningful tours of working facilities and technologies in the field.

As part of the event, representatives from Strategic Materials and eCullet, both glass processors, will present. And attendees will tour the Verallia, formerly Saint-Gobain Container, glass manufacturing plant and the eCullet glass processing facility. eCullet is producing more than 8,000 tons/month of furnace-ready cullet for Verallia’s glass manufacturing plant where they are now using nearly 50% recycled glass—up from 17% in 2009—in the manufacture of new glass wine bottles. Get more information and register

After receiving initial Committee approval, the Massachusetts proposal to expand the current container deposit law to include water and similar water-based beverages did not pass prior to the July 31st legislative deadline. Compromise between state legislators saw a provision on non-carbonated and other beverages removed and limited the scope of the expansion to include water and sports drinks only. The legislation also would have raised the amount per container that the state’s redemption centers could have received from the beverage dealers from 2.25 to 3 cents. Governor Patrick (D) has been a longtime advocate of expanding the state’s container deposit law, citing millions of dollars in unclaimed deposits that the state could have received annually. 

GPI recently sat down to speak with Mark Cochrane & Yvonne Schoff of Cinderella’s Organic Housekeeping, a new company that offers fair trade, organic, eco-friendly cleaning products, all of which are packaged in glass. Cinderella’s is proud to offer consumers the first glass spray bottle in the cleaning industry complimented by glass concentrate refill bottles.

Listen to the podcast or Read the transcript

Be the first to find out the winners of GPI’s 2010 Clear Choice Awards on Tuesday, September 14th at 1:00pm.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Winners will be announced on the GPI website through a satellite video presentation. Mark your calendars to get an inside look at the 2010 top glass container designs in North America. Don’t miss out.

GPI has launched the “Recycle Glass Week e-hunt”, a virtual scavenger hunt to educate about the value of glass bottle recycling. Little Bottle, an animated character created by Saint-Gobain Containers, guides recycling enthusiasts, glass lovers, and green people everywhere through this easy online search for a chance to win iPod shuffles, t-shirts, cash, and more. Check out participant tweets

“We hope the recycle e-hunt proves a fun way to educate about the environmental benefits of glass container recycling, and that it will encourage people to recycle more glass bottles and jars,” says GPI president Joseph Cattaneo. “Recycling glass saves energy, reduces use of raw materials, and lessens CO2 emissions. Recycling your glass containers will help glass container manufacturers to meet the goal to use 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013.”

GPI has partnered with Earth911.com, O-I, Race Across America, and Saint-Gobain Containers to host recycle e-hunt clues. GPI will announce recycle e-hunt prize winners during GPI’s 2nd annual Recycle Glass Week, September 12-18. GPI's Recycle Glass Week e-hunt is also a finalist in PR News' Digital Awards 2010! Winners will be announced on October 6th. Learn more

Start the e-hunt now

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is teaming up with Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB), the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization, to promote GPI’s Recycle Glass Week and KAB’s America Recycles Day, a nationally-recognized day for community-driven initiatives dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States.

“GPI is delighted to partner with such an extraordinary organization to advance recycling in communities across the country,” says Joseph Cattaneo, president of the Glass Packaging Institute. “Keep America Beautiful’s America Recycles Day and GPI’s Recycle Glass Week are two great events that share a common purpose: educating consumers about the environmental benefits of recycling and encouraging action.”

“Uniting our resources, networks and constituents to promote recycling helps amplify our shared message,” said Matthew M. McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Recycling is the easiest thing that any individual or organization can do to save energy, protect our treasured natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it has never been more important.”

During GPI’s second annual Recycle Glass Week, September 12-18, communities across the U.S. will unite with glass container manufacturers, suppliers, and recyclers, to hold local activities and events to build awareness and boost glass bottle recycling. Check out the events happening in your area. More are added every day.

Recycle More NC is North Carolina’s third social marketing recycling campaign to launch in 2010. While previous campaigns targeted children (Recycle Guys) and 18-34 year olds (RE3.org), Recycle More NC is designed for the 35-55 demographic who has access to curbside recycling, but may not be recycling away from home. With Recycle More NC, the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance is hoping to increase the amount of curbside recycling, but also recycling at work and when people are on the go.

Recycling “On the Go” is more than just finding a bin nearby. It’s about holding onto your empty bottle until you get home, or asking the manager of your favorite restaurant to provide recycling. It’s about keeping that valuable commodity out of the waste stream and into a recycling bin, where it can be remade into a new product, like glass bottles or jars.

The entries are in, but who will win?

Be the first to find out the winners of GPI’s 2010 Clear Choice Awards during Recycle Glass Week, September 12-18. Winners will be announced on the GPI website through a satellite video presentation. Mark your calendars to get an inside look at the 2010 top glass container designs in North America. Don’t miss out.