Is The Glass Half-Full?
In the single-stream era, glass tends to get lumped in the contaminant category, but there might be more solutions available for this important material than many realize.
Momentum Recycling was featured in Resource Recycling’s article this month by Dylan De Thomas. The article highlights the leaders in glass processing innovations and cities around the country who have developed alternative ways of glass collection. Below is a link to the article:
Is the Glass Half Full? (Resource Recycling February 2016)
Ogden Glass Recycling Program a Smashing Success
Glass recycling in Ogden, Utah began as a City-provided service in 2013 with the establishment of three (3) drop-off sites located around Ogden. Reporter Cathy McKitrick of the Standard Examiner checked up on the status of this initiative in her most recent report below:
Ogden’s Glass Recycling a Smashing Success?
OGDEN — Since August 2013, Ogden’s glass recycling bins have kept 359 tons — or 718,000 pounds — of bottles, jars and other breakables out of the landfill.
In 2013, the city contracted with Salt Lake City-based Momentum Recycling for three giant collection bins to be stationed around the city. That five-year contract is set to expire in February 2018, according to Momentum President John Lair, and the city pays nothing for the service.
“The bins, the hauling, and the recycling of the glass is all done at our cost. The city provides the locations for the bins, and has personnel monitor the locations to clean up any broken glass that doesn’t find its way into the bins,” Lair said, describing the terms as “a very good deal for the city, given the current tonnage collected.”
However, if Ogden’s current glass recycling rates fail to rise, Lair said that future contracts could require Momentum to begin charging the city fees.
5th Annual Zero Waste Awards
Momentum Recycling is proud to be a member of the Utah Recycling Alliance (URA) and a sponsor of the annual Zero Waste Awards that recognize local businesses who have made great progress toward becoming zero waste organizations. Below is a letter from the URA Board Members inviting you to nominate a business for one of this year’s awards as well as to come join us all at the event!
Dear URA Members, Supporters & Friends,
The Story of the Toy Truck
From the very start of Momentum Recycling, we felt that it was extremely important to establish honest, genial relationships in the communities we serve. That interface with the community we knew would be afforded by using semi-automated trucks where the driver exits the truck to complete the collection.
In his “front-line” role as a truck driver for Momentum Recycling, Joe (pictured below) noticed how many kids along his route just LOVED to see him drive up in the big recycling truck. Many parents had previously told Joe about how much their children looked forward to seeing the truck and how fascinated they seemed by it.
One day while at the store, Joe noticed some toy trucks (similar to Matchbox cars) just like the one he drives at Momentum Recycling – so he bought a small stash of trucks and began taking them with him on his routes.
On September 23, the first appropriate opportunity came for Joe to give one of the toy trucks to a little boy who was about 2-years-old. During his route, a mom and her son were outside and the little boy became so excited to see the truck and started waving at Joe. So Joe grabbed a toy truck from inside the cab, brought it over and gave it to the little boy. The mom said, “You made his day!” …what the mom might not have known, was that it made Joe’s day too.
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Momentum Recycling is so lucky to have employees like Joe and for the opportunity to connect with the people in the communities we serve. Thank you all so much for your continued support!
Curbside Glass Recycling Spreading to SL County Neighborhoods
Big News! – We are excited to announce that the curbside glass recycling program is expanding into Salt Lake County neighborhoods! In partnership with Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling, the new program has already begun servicing the Canyon Rim and Emigration Canyon neighborhoods. You can sign-up to get your own bin here on Wasatch Front’s website for just $8/mo and a $45 startup fee.
The program will be expanding southward through the County early next year. Please take a minute to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to make sure to stay afloat of future updates.
Momentum Recycling to Open Recycling Facility in Colorado
The Momentum Recycling family is very proud to announce that we will be opening up a new glass recycling facility in Denver, CO in 2016!
Currently, most glass in Colorado does not get recycled – but that is about to change. Follow this link to read more in Westword’s coverage of this exciting news!
