Akron, Ohio Launches New Glass Recycling Program

In an effort to improve glass recycling in the city, Akron, Ohio has debuted a new glass recycling program.

Glass bottles, specifically food jars and drink bottles, can be dropped off by residents at the five purple recycling containers placed across the city.

Emily Collins, Strategic Advisor for the Mayor, said that for every ton of glass that Akron residents recycle through this new program, more than one ton of raw materials are going to be saved.

"We know that glass is infinitely recyclable, so we can reproduce that effect over and over and over again," Collins said. "I'm very excited to give Akron that opportunity."

Residents should clean their glasses to reduce contamination, but glass bottles can be recycled with labels left on them. Lids and corks should be removed before placing bottles into the recycling bins.

However, the recycling bins are specifically accepting food and beverage containers and will not accept things like windows, mirrors, light bulbs, drinking glasses, TV screens, and more. Collins mentioned that these items have different compositions than beverage containers and could create problems when the glass is broken down.

"Those are things that will make the process troublesome, and the reason that's the case is that they don't melt under the same temperatures," she said. "So, we need to be fairly restrictive of what we're putting in here."

The purple glass recycling containers can take in about seven tons of glass and those using the containers are asked not to leave glass outside the bins if it is full.

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