Clear, colored glass can now go together

Glass recycling in Cedar Rapids and Linn County is changing, saving money and making the collection of glass easier for everyone.  The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency (Agency) has entered into an agreement with Ripple Glass, a glass recycling business based in Kansas City, Missouri, that will allow clear and colored glass to be collected together.  Previously Cedar Rapids residents with curbside recycling were required to set clear glass in one bucket and colored glass in a different bucket.  The new service allows customers to set clear and colored glass out in the same bucket.  Customers can start setting mixed glass out for collection immediately.  Glass still must not be placed in the CURBY cart.

Glass recycling has struggled due to the stringent requirements set by the material processors and a significant drop in commodity pricing in 2008.  Prior to the agreement with Ripple Glass, the Agency was underwriting the processing of glass in Linn County with a cost of approximately $12,000 annually.  Ripple Glass constructed a state of the art sorting facility that allows them to separate types of glass even after it has broken.  In addition to the added convenience for customers, the Agency will no longer underwrite glass processing.  “Some maintenance and staff time will still be incurred by the Agency, but those expenses are lower compared to the costs under the previous arrangement,” said Marie DeVries,  Agency planner. The Agency also provides drop-off bins for glass and other recyclables at both Agency sites – 1954 County Home Road and 2250 A Street SW. All Linn County residents are welcome to use the drop-off bins.

Ripple Glass works with local manufacturers in the Kansas City area to produce fiberglass insulation and a company in Tulsa, OK to produce new beverage containers out of the glass collected.