North America's Leader in Glass Recycling Illinois Recycling
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North America’s Leader in Glass Recycling Illinois Recycling Conference Recycling for a Green Economy June 03, 2014 Photo courtesy of Glass Packaging Institute Strategic Materials Overview Largest recycler of glass in North America Largest in glass containers Largest in fiberglass Largest in highway bead Large post industrial plastic recycler Recycle over 3,000,000 tons per year Over 40 locations Operate with latest technology…ceramic detectors, color sorters, fine grind cullet Recycling Glass for over 100 years Glass Recycling in Illinois SMI operates one facility that recycles glass Chicago, IL – Curbside Collected Glass, Whole Bottle (Color separated & Mixed), & Clear Plate Glass 3 Recycling Glass Saves Natural Resources 1 Ton of Recycled Glass Saves 1.1 tons of Sand / Soda ash / & Limestone Why Recycle Glass Reduces Landfill Volumes Creates Jobs Plant employees, Drivers, Auxiliary growth Reduces Carbon Footprint Saves 25-30% of energy used to make new glass containers Saves $’s Helps keep container pricing lower Creation of New Products Glass Recycling Future Single Stream Increasing More 3 mix Smaller pieces Higher processing costs Bar/Restaurant/Commercial Importance of Glass Quality A Tale of Two Piles… 3-Mix Glass/Curbside Deposit-Grade Bottles 7 Recycled 3-Mix Cullet Before After 8 Difficulties in Recycling Glass Non Recyclables Rocks Sharps, Syringes, & Bags/Tubing Taconite Garden Hoses, VHS Tapes, Chicken/Rib Bones, Bakeware, Ceramics, Yard Waste, Wood, etc, etc Paper Large Sheets Shred How to Improve Supply Continued education around the benefits of recycling Schools Public Space / Awareness Campaigns Policy solutions to increase recycling Extended Producer Responsibility Programs • Container Deposits • Stewardship Programs – industry-funded curbside Landfill/Disposal Bans Expansion of Single-Stream Programs PAYT Systems Public Space/Event Recycling 10 How to Improve Supply Improved MRF/Glass Processor Technology Improved Separation of Materials at MRF’s Ability to Sort “The Rough Stuff” Industry solutions to increase recycling Collaborative industry-centric programs New Focus on untapped markets • Bar/Restaurant/On-Premise • University Recycling • Commercial Recycling • Windshields 11 Recycle Glass .