The clink of bottles is a common sound this time of the year and we know many of you will be in the midst of your busiest period, especially with such hot weather so early in the summer.

It's also been a busy time for the Glass Packaging Forum and new scheme managers, 3R Group. We've been working hard to increase the volume and quality of beverage and container glass being recovered and make some noise about the strong sustainability story behind glass.

"Let's talk!"  is our key message to foster strong partnerships and collaboration with councils, waste management companies, community recyclers, the hospitality industry and glass recyclers. We've also been working on the public face of the GPF with new collateral, media around funding allocations and meeting stakeholders at industry events.

Applications for funding for infrastructure and events have been coming in thick and fast. Over the last few months we have approved funding for:

• 5R Solutions - glass breaker conveyor
• Clean Events - eye-catching glass recycling bins (pictured)
• Whangaporoa - solar-powered bin lifter
• Visy (Onehunga) and Pak n' Sav (Queenstown) - public place recycling and drop off
• Wanaka WasteBusters - new infrastructure

Grants help us support projects that have a direct impact on keeping glass out of landfill, but are unlikely to go ahead without funding.  With nearly $2 million granted to date, this money has direct and positive outcomes on glass recovery rates.

If you have a project that needs funding, whether it be for technology, infrastructure, events, research or education, please get in touch. 

If this busy time is highlighting limitations with your glass recycling systems, we'd love to help - call 0800 267 674 or email us.

We're really excited to announce the launch of the new Glass Packaging Forum website.

With fresh graphics and an engaging message, we believe this, alongside our upcoming Facebook page, will amplify the positive story of glass. After all, it's all good news!

Please check out the new website, and of course, give us any feedback you have. The Facebook page will go live in January and we'd love you, including our 100+ members, to be the first to follow, like and share it!  

Members: please also take a look at our member listings and don't forget to send us a new logo if you're rebranding. Please note, only parent company logos are listed. 

Just in case you didn't have enough to celebrate already this festive season, then celebrate this - you're a member of New Zealand's only voluntary, accredited product stewardship programme for beverage and container glass.

We're all glass and we're making a difference!

Merry Christmas everyone.