For details about how our project works, please visit the "Our Project" page.

It is Time to See Glass Differently

Most of us want to do the right thing when it comes to our trash, and would like to divert it from ending up in a landfill.  However, in many small rural municipalities like Walla Walla, glass has become a throw away commodity because of a lack of funding for glass transport to manufacturers. As a result, the majority of glass has been thrown in the landfill with the excuse that it was the only viable solution. We know that because glass has the potential to be recycled into new glass over and over without degradation, it is not only NOT trash, but a huge opportunity to support a large circular economy. 

 

What Are Our Plans Now?

BIG Recyclers is now part of a statewide effort looking at glass recycling solutions for rural communities. We have partnered with the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), which represents glass container manufacturers nationwide. Through projects focused on bringing recycling to rural areas in other parts of the country, GPI has developed a hub-and-spoke model to allow rural areas to economically get their glass bottles to glass manufacturers. Recycling glass into new bottles is a true circular solution. For that reason BIG Recyclers has created local glass drop-off "spokes" in Walla Walla and Benton City, with eyes on expansion to other communities in the future.

 

About GPI's Hub-And-Spoke Model:  

GPI has partnered with local groups in locations like Pheonix, AZ and Chicago, to create a model in which wineries, breweries, bars and restaurants collect their bottles in a local drop-off (spoke), which is then transported to a larger collection site (hub). Once the larger hub has enough, a larger transportation company, at a lower cost to each spoke community, brings the amassed glass containers to the nearest manufacturer for processing into new glass containers or products. See this link for more.