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Recycle Glass Week kicks off on September 21st and we’re gearing up for great nationwide events to celebrate and encourage glass container recycling. Start with these “top 10” ways to make your mark during Recycle Glass Week:

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Delaware Governor Vetoes Repeal of Container Deposit Law

Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D) has vetoed House Bill 201, which would have repealed the state’s container deposit system. In his veto message to the legislature, the Governor acknowledged issues the current law faces, however he requested that stakeholders, legislators and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control work together to propose a solution in 2010. Read Governor Markell’s veto message to the House of Representatives

GPI had contacted Governor Markell, encouraging him to veto the legislation and review the program prior to any drastic changes or elimination. Supporters of the legislation said that the program (from which aluminum containers had already been removed), was largely unsuccessful and had not generated increased recycling rates. The deposit program includes glass and plastic soda, beer and mineral water containers only and an estimated 30% of the covered beverage containers are recovered annually.

PACKAGING TRENDS

A Look Inside: Saint-Gobain Containers’ ECO Series Wine Bottles

With New ECO Series, Less is More

Saint-Gobain Containers recently developed a major innovation in sustainable design and manufacturing with the launch of their “ECO Series” wine bottles. Every size winery can now get a lighter-weight, eco-friendly glass bottle that meets their size, shape, and color requirements.

GPI sat down with Katie Gerber, marketing manager of the wine sector for Saint-Gobain Containers, to learn more about the company’s new line of ECO Series wine bottles, including the process for designing the lighter-weight bottles, the environmental benefits of using the ECO Series wine bottles, and plans for the future.

Listen to the Podcast or Read the Transcript

LEGISLATION

Climate Change Legislation Passes House on Close Vote

Prior to the July 4th recess, the House of Representatives voted 219-212 to pass H.R. 2454, the major climate change vehicle. The legislation would provide approximately 15% of the total available allowances to the glass container and other energy intensive industries to address international and other competitive concerns. If conditions in the bill are met, allowances granted to qualifying industries may be phased out by 2025.

The most immediate goal of the bill is a 17% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020, with an overall 83% reduction by 2050. The Senate has indicated they will take the bill up for debate later this fall. GPI and its member companies continue to meet with Senate staff to address glass container industry concerns. Appropriate funding for increased, quality beverage container recycling is among measures being discussed for their consideration. The 2008 climate change vehicle, S. 2191, considered by the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee had included recycling based provisions and incentives.

Massachusetts Governor Includes Container Deposit Expansion in Supplemental Budget

Massachusetts Governor Patrick Deval’s (D) supplemental budget sent to the legislature contains a proposal to expand the state’s container deposit system to include non-carbonated beverages. An estimate by the state determined that this expansion could generate an additional $20 million annually from unredeemed deposits. Legislation was introduced earlier this year to expand the system to include these containers, but these bills failed to move out of Committee. The legislature is expected to consider the supplemental budget later this month.

GLASS RECYCLING

O-I’s campus glass recycling/drop-off program

O-I has invited employees at its world headquarters in Perrysburg, OH to become good stewards of the environment by offering an on-site glass recycling program. Launched in March 2009, the program is an effort to increase the amount of high quality recycling by providing separate bins for flint, amber, and green glass containers.

O-I has partnered with Glass Recyclers to pick up, clean and sort the glass containers. The cullet from Glass Recyclers is then purchased by O-I’s Charlotte, MI facility to be reused in the manufacturing process to create new glass bottles.

To date, the program has collected a total of 11 tons of containers and continues to grow as more employees and the local community actively bring in glass packaging to be recycled on campus.

Atlanta Hyatt Regency Makes Room for Glass Bottle Recycling

The Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been recycling since the 1990s, but they had stopped recycling glass and weren’t recycling any of their food residuals. “We were already largely compliant with the Atlanta Zero Waste Zone challenge when it was rolled out,” says Randy Childers, Senior Director of Engineering at the hotel, “but with their help we now have a source for food waste, our waste oil and grease is going to biodeisel production, and we are recycling glass bottles again.”

Glass by weight is well over 80% of their containers. “Some recyclers in this area won’t take glass,” says Childers, “but anyone that works with us has to take the glass. We made that a non-negotiable with our recycler.” Conex Recycling, Alpharetta, GA, picks up their glass, and other plastic and metal containers. From there, it goes to SP Recycling for processing.

Like other bars and hotels, logistics for collecting and transporting recyclables as well as training staff present the most challenges. But according to Childers, “public and employee consciousness around recycling is pretty high right now, so staff is typically on board as soon as we give them the tools.” More

Vitro Boosts 2008 Glass Collected for Recycling

Vitro, one of the largest glass manufacturers in the world headquartered in Monterey, Mexico, collected 128,000 tons of glass recycled during 2008, up 2.4 percent from 2007, thanks to its program “For a More Transparent World.” This translates into a savings of 7.6 cubic metric tons of natural gas and a reduction of 15,111 tons of carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere. The information was presented in Vitro’s 2008 Report on Sustainable Development. More

1000 WORDS

Do You Have Good Bottle Karma?

The City of Fort Collins, Colorado, encourages residents to raise their bottle karma by using glass-only drop-off bins to ensure that 100% of the glass can be used to make new glass bottles. Glass + Recycling = Destiny.

Copyright © 2009 Glass Packaging Institute 

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