In recognition of the “From Bins to Bottles” glass recycling program – which collected more than 1,000 tons of bottles, jars and jugs in 2023 – Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) has received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
“At PRC we work hard every day to prevent waste and conserve the environment,” said PRC Executive Director Darren Spielman. “We are proud of our glass recycling network, which keeps an endlessly reusable resource in use and out of the trash. It’s one great example of our environmental impact in Pennsylvania.”
PRC’s “From Bins to Bottles” glass recycling program features “pop-up” and permanent glass drop-off collection sites in communities with no access to glass recycling bins.
The award announcement explained, “This program met a critical community need when these communities were faced with the loss of glass recycling in their curbside single-stream recycling programs. Last year, the project collected over 1,000 tons of glass to be recycled.”
According to PRC Glass Program Coordinator Ethan Woodfill, “Glass is still one of the most recyclable materials we generate in our homes, and the market for glass recycling is very strong. When you take the time to use glass-only drop-off sites, nearly 100 percent of the glass collected is recycled into new bottles, jars and jugs.”
Awardees were evaluated for their degree of environmental protection, innovation, partnership, economic impact, consideration of climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice, as well as outcomes achieved.
“This year’s Environmental Excellence honorees showcase the innovative ways we can protect our environment and shape a more sustainable future here in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Together we will spur the next generation of environmental stewards and these projects represent our ability to work together and preserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources.”
PRC launched its glass recycling campaign in 2019 with a series of pop-up events in response to the elimination of glass in numerous curbside programs. Last year alone, PRC’s program enabled 50,000 households to drop off more than two million pounds of glass bottles, jars and jugs for recycling.