Three years after removing glass from acceptable recycling list, Hancock County Ohio Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) resumes its glass recycling program. “When glass was dropped three years ago, residents were not happy with the decision. Getting glass back as an acceptable material was important and we are glad it’s back,” said Courtney Comstock, director of recycling operations.
With the support of the Hancock County Commissioners, the SWMD purchased roll-off containers and a truck to rebuild the glass program collection at their material recovery facility and at satellite drop-off locations. “The Hancock County recycling program was one of the first community programs in Ohio and residents always took pride in diverting glass from the landfills for recycling,” Comstock added.
Hancock County’s decision to add glass back into their recycling list provides a closed-loop model for glass recycling through the value chain. Collected glass bottles and jars are transported to the Rumpke Glass Plant in Dayton, Ohio where it is cleaned and sized for use as a feedstock for fiberglass manufacturing. “Glass recycled through the Hancock County recycling program supports a significant recycling infrastructure in Ohio,” Molly Yeager, corporate communications manager for Rumpke Recycling. “Rumpke Dayton Glass Plant prepares glass for use at the Johns Manville fiberglass plant in Defiance, Ohio about an hour from Hancock County. This is truly a closed-loop recycling success story that Hancock residents can be proud of,” said Yeager.
“Glass is an important component of recycling and has room for growth. “Glass bottles and jars are 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled infinitely with no degradation on material quality,” said Richard Hoch with Diageo and leader in Glass Recycling Coalition (GRC). A recent study conducted by the GRC found that 93% of consumers and residents expect to be able to recycle their glass containers. “Recycling glass containers helps US glass container and fiberglass manufacturing plants remain competitive and protect US jobs,” said Hoch.