Owens-Illinois, eCullet Open Glass Recycling Plant In Oregon

Owens-Illinois Inc. (O-I) and eCullet Inc. have opened a news glass recycling facility in Portland, Ore., as a joint venture.

The Glass to Glass facility will supply glass to the Perrysburg, Ohio-based O-I’s plant nearby in Portland, according to a news release. Palo Alto, Calif.-based eCullet is a technology-based recycled glass processing company.

The joint venture chose Portland in part because it offers a steady stream of high-quality glass as a result of the Oregon Container Deposit program. The facility also will process glass from Washington.

The two companies formed the joint venture earlier this year and began construction of the facility in June. The plant will employ 15.

“This new facility will help us reduce our use of virgin raw materials, lowering our overall environmental impact,” said Pedro Tchmola, manager of O-I’s Portland plant.

O-I’s Portland plant produces more than 1 million bottles per day, primarily beer bottles for local microbreweries.