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With more than 50 events in 22 states, Recycle Glass Week created awareness across the country that recycling your glass bottles and jars has powerful environmental and energy benefits. In Colorado and Indiana, it led to permanent and expanded glass recycling collection sites for high-quality cullet. And Captain Cullet and Little Gob educated thousands of elementary students about 100% recyclable glass containers.
Here are some highlights:
Anchor Collects 14 Tons of Recycled Glass Across the U.S.
Anchor Glass manufacturing plants and surrounding communities collected almost 14 tons (over 27,000 pounds) of recovered glass during Recycle Glass week. The Jacksonville, Florida plant took tops honors with 7.4 tons, and held an “Anchor Night” at Cliff's Bar & Grill to collect bottles. Henryetta, Oklahoma, came in at 6 tons. They also placed 6 recycling containers throughout the community to encourage more glass recycling. The Winchester, Indiana plant gathered nearly a ton during the week. Salem, New Jersey, collected about 400 pounds and placed glass recycling posters at 14 local retailers. Finally, in Tampa, Florida, for 30 days the SunTrust building set up a lobby display promoting glass recycling with collection bins for flint, amber, and green glass—and brought in 300 pounds.
Golden, CO Makes Drop-Off Glass Container Recycling Permanent
 Rocky Mountain Bottle Company far exceeded the goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of glass, collecting 1,640 pounds during Recycle Glass Week. Because RMBC met the goal, the company will donate $1,000 to the United Way. Since the Recycle Glass Week event, RMBC has received permission to keep a permanent drop-off bin for glass container recycling at the Golden Recycling Center in Colorado, so recycled glass for bottle-to-bottle use can continue to be collected.
Elementary Students in Brockway, PA Meet the Glass Collection Challenge
The O-I Crenshaw and Brockway, Pennsylvania, facilities visited Brockway Elementary school to educate approximately 585 students on the importance of recycling glass containers. The students were challenged to collect glass throughout Recycle Glass Week, and reached 5,760 pounds. O-I partnered with Veolia Environmental Services and the Jefferson County Waste Authority to make the event a success.
Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia Collection Events Round Up More Glass
 O-I employees in Lapel, Indiana brought in 1,007 pounds of glass during Recycle Glass Week. In Zanesville, Ohio, an O-I community collection event yields 850 pounds of glass for recycling. And in Atlanta, GA, Strategic Materials, Inc. partnered with O-I's local manufacturing plant to provide bins for employees to collect glass during Recycle Glass Week. At the end of the week O-I presented the city of East Point's Keep America Beautiful Organization with a $2,000 donation.
Indy Recycle Glass Week Initiative Expands New Drop-Off Site
To provide more clean, quality glass to an Indiana cullet processor, Strategic Materials, Inc., Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. and the City's Office of Sustainability began a pilot 'glass only' recycling bin effort in 2009. The first roll-off container was placed at a city park, next to the existing drop-off container for mixed recyclables. This bin's role was twofold: separate glass from the existing co-mingled program and relieve weekend overflow issues at this site.
 Later this month, the second glass only container will be placed in another city park where other recyclables are now co-mingled. The glass only bins have been painted with 'glass only' messages by students from a local school as well as from a college campus interested in promoting recycling in their community.
Get a complete overview of events and photos
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FEVE Opens “Friends of Glass” Shop
 The European Container Glass Federation, FEVE, opened the first ever “Friends of Glass” shop in conjunction with their September 23rd Choose Glass Week events.
The Brussels shop displays a huge variety of products packaged in glass. Doors were opened with a press conference featuring Friends of Glass spokespersons, celebrities, and members of the glass industry.
Jill Peeters, TV presenter and winner of the C3 Climate Change Communication Award 2009, and Bernard Tirtiaux, writer and glass sculptor, shared why they support the “Friends of Glass” initiative. Harp player Maria Palatine brought glass to life playing on a glass “carillon.” More
In related news, friend of glass Lisa Barbuscia—model, actress and author of Lisa B: Lifestyle Essentials—dishes to Hello! magazine on why she “hearts” glass containers, and how choosing glass matters to the environment. Read the article
PACKAGING TRENDS
2009 Clear Choice Winners Showcased at Pack Expo and Worldwide Food Expo
 The 2009 Glass Packaging Institute’s Clear Choice Awards winning products were displayed (photo at right in Package Design magazine) along with 200 other award-winning packages at Pack EXPO Las Vegas from October 5–7 in the "Showcase of Packaging Innovations." The Clear Choice Awards winners will travel to the Worldwide Food Expo at the McCormick Center in Chicago, IL, for exhibition at the GPI booth from October 28–31. Don’t miss out. Be sure to stop by for an in-person look. Get a sneak peak now.
LEGISLATION
Senate Moves Forward on GHG Legislation, Includes Recycling Provision in Draft
Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA), introduced draft greenhouse gas legislation in the Senate, with a goal of reducing GHG emissions 20% from 2005 levels by 2020. Climate change legislation passed by the House had a lower overall reduction target (17%) for the same timeframe. The Senate legislation also specifically preserves the right for the EPA to separately regulate GHG emissions where it deems necessary. How credits would be distributed to the energy intensive trade-exposed facilities was largely left blank, and will be determined at the Committee level. GPI has advocated that the Senate follow the Rep. Inslee/Doyle amendment from the House bill, which would provide credits and significant time to assist with compliance and provide a level playing field with unregulated, international competition.
 This legislation also contains a beneficial recycling provision, which would provide funding for recycling initiatives that reduce energy and award money on a competitive basis through states and municipalities. Manufacturing and processing facilities that deploy new technology to use more recycled material or reduce GHG emissions would be eligible. The program would also support technology that increases collection rates or improves the quality of recyclable material. GPI is working with the Recycling Roundtable to ensure this provision is strengthened and included in final legislation.
EPA Issues Final Rule for GHG Reporting
 The EPA has issued the final rule for greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements for glass container manufacturing and other energy intensive facilities. As part of the rule, companies will need to begin collecting data beginning January 1, 2010. The EPA reports will be at the facility, rather than corporate level, with the first reports due March 31, 2011 (for 2010 emissions data).
Regarding the certification of emissions, the EPA determined that facility emissions will need to be self-certified, and subject to an EPA emissions verification program. The EPA also determined that the incoming federal reporting rule would not preempt state and regional programs required by law. Get more information on the rule
GLASS RECYCLING
U.S. EPA Report Highlights Climate Change Benefits of Recycling
A  U.S. EPA study released in September finds that 42% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from the goods we produce, consumer, and throw away. And, in 2006, recycling resulted in the avoidance of nearly 183 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the report, materials as well as land management directly and indirectly impacts 58% to 62% of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the U.S. EPA report suggests that there are large reduction opportunities through source reduction and recycling.
For example, an increase in the 2006 MSW recycling and composting rate—currently 32.5%—to 50% would lead to the avoidance of 70 to 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions. And, reducing product packaging by half could cut as much as 105 million tons of CO2 equivalents per year. Get the full report
1000 WORDS
Little Bottle a Favorite on YouTube
Little Bottle proves he’s all American when it comes to recycling—a little bit history buff and a little bit rock and roll. Check it out; and then help Little Bottle spread the word about the environmental power of glass container recycling.
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Brands choose glass for premium product introductions. 
The GPI’s Standard Edition X FLEXO Color Guide for printing inks on corrugated is now available for purchase on the 
America Recycles Day is November 15th. On the heels of GPI’s Recycle Glass Week, it’s another opportunity to renew your commitment to recycling glass bottles and jars. And glass bottles contain up to 70% recycled glass, so buy recycled, too. Take the America Recycles Day pledge, or participate in a local event. 
UK soft drinks company Britvic has reduced the amount of glass in bottles of its juice drink J2O. The new J2O bottle is 20 grams lighter, from 200 grams to 280 grams, saving about 4,000 tons of glass annually, and producing a 10% energy savings.