The Glass Packaging Institute announces Recycle Glass Day on December 10, 2008. This annual event will help build national awareness about the benefits of glass container recycling to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and better the environment.
 
“We hope this awareness event will result in higher levels of glass collected for recycling and create positive attitudes about recycling overall,” says Joe Cattaneo, GPI President. “Recycling is an integral part of the cradle-to-cradle process of glass packaging manufacturing.”
 
In conjunction with Recycle Glass Day, GPI is sponsoring a YouTube video competition to promote glass recycling. The competition is open to packaging sciences students at participating schools, including Cal Poly, Clemson University, Michigan State, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, San Jose State University, Stout University of Wisconsin, and the University of Florida. Winners will be announced on Recycle Glass Day.
 
Visit the Recycle Glass Day web site to:
 
•   Find out how to recycle glass containers in your area.
•   Calculate how much carbon you save by recycling glass bottles.
•   Get facts about glass container recycling.
•   Discover the “Top Ten” reasons to recycle glass containers.
•   Commit to recycle glass containers by signing the “I Commit to Recycle Glass” pledge. Pledge now

New Ad Campaign Focuses on PURITY of Glass Containers

GPI kicks off a new ad campaign this fall to educate consumers about the “PURE” benefits of glass containers for their health and the health of the environment.
 
While much is yet to be understood about the effects of other packaging materials on human health, glass has proven safe and healthy for consumers and the environment for more than 3,000 years. No other packaging material has the proven track record of glass. Visit GPI’s “PURE” Website to learn more.
 
Ensure your foods are fresh and PURE in glass bottles and jars. Ask your grocer to keep it PURE.
 
Are you a brand manager? Stay ahead of the curve and choose glass to keep your products PURE. Get a list of glass container suppliers and distributors.

New York Times Publishes GPI Response to Boxed Wine Article

GPI’s letter-to-the-editor in response to a New York Times op-ed by Tyler Coleman on the environmental ins and outs of boxed wine got readers thinking about glass as the truly “green” packaging. Read GPI’s response. And check out consumers reactions to GPI’s letter-to-the-editor on the “Serious Eats” blog.

John Gallo Receives 2008 Phoenix Award

John Gallo, Vice President of Gallo Glass, receives the prestigious 2008 Phoenix Award, given every year to a person, now living, who has made extraordinary contributions to the glass industry. The award will be presented to Mr. Gallo at a black-tie award banquet at The Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, CA, September 26, 2008.
 
For decades, John Gallo has devoted himself to reinforcing a dynamic company culture where the success of the company is grounded in embracing new technology and in each employee’s commitment to excellence. Get news release

PACKAGING TRENDS

A Look Inside: The “Love Bottle” Company 

Love Bottle Company founder Minna Yoo talks to GPI about her new 100% recyclable, reusable, and customizable glass “love bottles” on GPI’s new “TIP” podcast. Listen to the podcast

Read the transcript

LEGISLATION

South Australian Government Increases Consumer Deposit for Containers

South Australia’s government doubled the deposit on covered drink containers from 5 to 10 cents starting September 1. This is the first increase since the container deposit law was introduced in 1977.
 
The Rann Government (South Australian) hopes the increased payment will reverse a decline in the number of containers returned for refunds. Environment Minister Jay Weatherill said South Australia had higher recycling rates than other states, but could still improve. As the only state that offers a refund on drink containers, it already recovers 80% of glass containers, compared with 36% nationally.

GLASS RECYCLING

Resource Recycling Posts Results of Recycling Coordinator Survey

A recent survey of nearly 300 U.S. recycling officials, conducted by Resource Recycling magazine, found that 64.8% want to see federal action on a national beverage container deposit law.  A small majority (57%) would like a law requiring states to meet a minimum recycling rate.  
 
Survey respondents also see “consumer education” (76.5%) and “political leadership” (62.3%) as issues critical issues to the future of materials recovery.  And when it comes to barriers for improving recycling, “rising fuel costs” is the biggest barrier (78.6%) and “recycling market demand” the smallest (41.9%).  Of those surveyed, 78% offer drop-off recycling for residential collection, while 71% report using a curbside service for recovery of recyclables.  Get all survey findings

Glass Bottle Recycling at Outdoor Events Heats Up in Monterey, CA

The City of Monterey is expanding the collection of glass and other beverage containers with mobile bottle recycling at local outdoor events.

“We just finished a successful bottle collection event for our July 4th fireworks extravaganza,” says Angela Brantley, City of Monterey Solid Waste Program Manager. “People loved the availability of the mobile recycling event and City staff commented on the decrease of glass containers found on the beach July 5th.” More

CO Glass Recycling Pilot Improves Recycling and Reduces Waste

The City of Fort Collins, Larimer County and the City of Loveland, CO recently co-developed a separated glass recycling pilot project to improve recycling efforts and reduce landfill waste. Citizens of these locales now have opportunity to participate in a voluntary program that gives them the option to drop off glass in designated “glass only” bins at three locations.
 
Folks can continue to place glass bottles and jars in their communities’ curbside collection program. However, local experts indicate that glass capture rates for single-stream recycling may only reach 30%. By contrast, residents can be assured that close to 100% of all glass collected at the designated drop-off centers are manufactured into new glass at the Rocky Mountain Bottling Company in Wheat Ridge. To review the in-depth study that Fort Collins, Larimer County and Loveland commissioned in the process of assessing the best alternative for their communities, take a look at “Best Management Practices for Glass Recycling in Northern Colorado.”

1000 WORDS

Introducing Glass Straws

Green Home sells glass drinking straws as a “beautiful solution to environmental and health issues”. These colorful straws (available in Red, Green, Blue, and Clear) are made of borosilicate heavy-wall tubing, and annealed using techniques that make it the strongest glass commercially available. Check it out

Copyright © 2008 Glass Packaging Institute 

If you, or someone you know would like to subscribe to "Inside Glass Packaging," or if you'd like to unsubscribe, please let us know at info@gpi.org. If you'd like to unsubscribe, you can also click here.