2024 Impact Report
FOUNDATION AWARDS $137K IN GRANTS, DIVERTING 2,700 TONS OF GLASS FROM LANDFILLS
The Glass Recycling Foundation (GRF) continues to make efforts to increase glass recycling in the U.S. by providing grants that assist with upgrading equipment, providing collection containers for glass drop-offs, developing resident education, and other glass recovery-related projects.
Video produced by the Pennsylvania Resource Council describing glass recycling and the new bin purchased with GRF funds.
The GRF released its 2024 Impact Report, highlighting $137,000 in grants that supported eight projects diverting 2,700 tons, or 5.4 million pounds of glass from landfills. This equates to more than 12.3 million glass bottles that were recycled as a result of the GRF’s local engagements. The grants were made possible by donations from American Online Giving Foundation, Anheuser Busch Foundation, Ardagh Group, Bacardi, Corona Protect Our Beaches, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Glass Recycling Institute, Knauf Insulation, Suntory, and Urban Mining Industries.
“Recycling diverts valuable glass from landfills, creating feedstock for manufacturing new glass containers, fiberglass insulation,” said Scott DeFife, president of the Glass Recycling Foundation and president of the Glass Packaging Institute. “The Glass Recycling Foundation provides support to organizations that share the same values to keep glass in local recycling programs and on the infinite recycling loop.”
2024 projects supported by the $137,000 in GRF grants include:
BIG Recyclers, Walla Walla, WA ($3,600) - Purchase 8'x10' trailer and 18 50-gallon recycling bins to support a new rural recycling spoke in eastern Washington state.
Baldwin County, AL ($21,000) - Purchase containers, a crusher, and supporting education for a new glass recycling program.
Macomb, IL ($15,000) - Purchase glass dumpster to support recycling in McDonough County.
James City County, VA ($16,000) - Purchase purple buckets and support education/outreach for purple bin program.
Lawrence-Mercer County, PA ($17,500) - Construction of a glass bunker to aggregate glass and establish glass recycling drop-off program.
Logan County, OH ($13,052) - Upgrade recycling facility to improve efficiencies and allow for more drop-off glass.
Pennsylvania Resources Council, Pittsburgh, PA ($21,000) - Purchase one permanent drop-off bin and one traveling bin to increase glass recycling in eastern PA (Philadelphia region).
Workwell Industries, Louisville, KY ($30,000) - Support the collection of clean, flint glass bottles from distilleries, tasting rooms, and bottling facilities in KY to crush into glass cullet and return to glass manufacturers.
Additional progress has been made on several projects awarded GRF grant funds in 2023.
Keep Waco Beautiful: Keep Waco Beautiful (KWB), a 501c3 nonprofit based in central Texas, received a $10,000 grant to relaunch its community glass recycling program. KWB used the funding to purchase drop-off bins and increase its services to local businesses. They also provide community education using English and Spanish handouts and promotional materials. KWB has received positive feedback that the community is very happy to have its glass recycling services back. In 2024, KWB collected over 299 tons of glass for recycling.
City of Temple: The city of Temple, located in central Texas, received a $19,000 grant to support its Save that Glass! project, which aims to reduce contamination of recycled glass and increase participation in glass recycling throughout the south and west areas of the city. The funds were used to purchase an additional recycling trailer that will be placed in a new part of the city for residents to drop off their glass. Although the trailer has been purchased, the project has not yet been launched. The city anticipates adding an additional 110 tons of recycled glass per year with this project.
Trailer purchased by the city of Temple, TX, will be utilized to collect glass bottles and containers. Image source: City of Temple
Waco, TX, resident utilizes a glass drop-off bin to recycle glass bottles. Image source: City of Waco
“There is no silver bullet that will solve for glass recycling nationwide. Recycling is a hyper-local issue requiring a customized solution for the community or region,” said Laura Hannemann, secretary of the Glass Recycling Foundation and director of corporate affairs with Sibelco Group. “The GRF works with other organizations to identify issues, collaborate on potential pathways forward, and implement solutions that are right-sized to make a significant impact in glass recycling.
More information on the foundation and grant program can be found at www.glassrecycles.org.
