Through a new partnership with Strategic Materials Inc., North America’s largest glass recycler, the City of Houston is able to offer residents a more convenient way to recycle glass.
“Since the removal of glass from the City’s single stream recycling program earlier this year, we have been working to find ways for residents to conveniently continue to recycle glass,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I want to thank Strategic Materials for stepping up to plate to provide a workable solution.”
Strategic Materials is working with industry partners and local communities to cover the cost of glass recycling drop off boxes at a total of ten locations throughout Houston with the goal of continuing to expand the program. The first two locations will open this weekend at:
- Sharpstown Park – 6600 Harbor Town Drive, accessible during park hours
- Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center – 2208 Washington Ave, accessible 24 hours
“We are fortunate to be supported by the Mayor and the City in the pursuit to further support glass recycling,” said Strategic Materials, Inc. CEO Denis Suggs. “We hope to identify additional partners within the community and our customer base to grow the recycling locations in the upcoming weeks and months. Our innate desire to preserve our environment and keep our city clean brings us together in a meaningful way to support glass recycling in Houston.”
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department will send out notices as the other eight locations are added to this pilot program. The locations and progress of the program will also be available on the Strategic Materials company website. These new drop off locations sponsored by SMI and partners are in addition to the nine existing City of Houston neighborhood depositories where residents are able to recycle glass and other items.
Due to cost concerns, glass was removed from the City’s curbside recycling program last March. Information about this pilot project, curbside recycling and other topics is available at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.
Please remember to empty and rinse all glass containers, and remove all corks, caps and lids before dropping them off.
Very good news for everyone who still wants to recycle glass and doesn’t have other options for curbside pickup. I presume these dropoff locations will have separate bins for clear and colored glass, since it’s less expensive to process glass that is pre-separated. Basically, this gets us back to a position we were in before curbside glass recycling was available, but with the bigger green bins and more things (like cardboard) that can be put in them. We’d still like to get back to where we had been, with glass being allowed at curbside, but until then this at least makes it a little less inconvenient.
Two thoughts about this. First, I really doubt the vast majority of Houston residents will save up their glass, then pack it into their car and drive across town, to dump it for free. My burg still has glass curbside recycling, and I participate in that, because I’m being charged for the recycling service, and I generally think it’s a good idea. What I would not do, though, is cart my glass to an off site location. I don’t think many Houstonians will do that, either. Maybe I’m wrong.
Second, the company that will be receiving the glass for free won’t even pay for the dumpsters to collect that glass, instead it seeks “industry partners and local communities to cover the cost of glass recycling drop off boxes.” This sounds like the glass recycling version of tying a pork chop around your neck so the dog will play with you.
Is there really so little money in glass recycling?