Under Harrisburg’s new program, residents can drop off glass for recycling at the marked areas on the map.
Glass is trash no more.
That was the message of Mayor Eric Papenfuse today, as he announced the return of glass recycling to Harrisburg.
“We are pleased to be able to provide a way for our residents to recycle glass jars and bottles,” Papenfuse said. “This is just another way we’re trying to implement environmentally friendly programs that will make us a green and progressive city.”
Three years ago, Harrisburg suspended glass recycling, citing its high cost and difficulty. At the same time, it began to accept paper products for recycling, which previously had not been allowed.
While glass recycling will re-start, it will not be picked up with other recyclables during weekly curbside collection. Instead, the city has identified areas in the following places where glass can be dropped off:
- Shipoke
- Hall Manor
- Kline Plaza
- Fire Station Two
- Fire Station One
- Fire Station Eight
- Broad Street Market
- Uptown Shopping Plaza
- Harrisburg Department of Public Works
- William Howard Day Homes
Each location will provide a clearly marked dumpster or bin for recycled glass products, Papenfuse said.
Specific glass products, including jars and bottles without lids or tops, will be accepted. Glass products such a mirrors, windows and drinking glasses, will not be accepted.
Papenfuse said that glass recycling has re-started because the new program will keep glass out of the waste stream of other recycled products. A major challenge for glass recycling has been that broken glass is difficult and expensive to separate and handle when intermingled with other recycled waste.
The city has contracted with Mount Pleasant, Pa.-based CAP Glass, a glass recycler to collect and recycle the glass. Glass recycling is slated to begin on Earth Day, April 22.
Papenfuse said that, since he’s been mayor, recycling in the city has increased three-fold, and he stressed the importance of glass recycling to keep down the city’s cost of burning solid waste at the incinerator.
“Not only are we concerned about the environment,” he said. “We’re also concerned about taxpayer dollars.”
For more information, including drop-off areas for glass recycling, visit the city’s website.
This story has been updated to include information about CAP Glass and additional comments from the mayor.
