Glass Recycling on the Rise in Missoula, MT

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Glass recycling is gaining popularity in Missoula. In 2018, the non-profit Recycle Works became the only business in Western Montana to recycle glass. Since then, more than 2.1 million pounds of glass has been recycled, according to the organization.

Glass is 100% recyclable, meaning that it can be recycled infinitely without losing value. In 2018, the U.S. produced 12.3 million tons of glass but only 31% was recycled, according to the EPA. Recycle Work’s employee Adam McDonald said glass is more difficult to recycle in rural areas, and in some rural towns, it may not be worth the cost and effort. But for Missoula, there was a need and a demand for the service, he said.

One of the challenges with recycling glass is that it is heavy, which makes it expensive to transport. Plus, shards can damage different kinds of equipment. But Recycle Works combats such issues in two ways. The glass is shipped to a recycling facility in Salt Lake City on a truck that came to Missoula full of boxed packages and, normally, would return empty if not filled with glass.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com