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A Newsletter for ARC's Green Communities |
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April 2016 What's the Problem with Glass?
How does a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) work? The Glass Packaging Institute touts glass as “the trusted and proven packaging for health, taste and the environment.” The benefits associated with glass packaging are many - glass containers are nonporous and impermeable; food and drinks sold in glass containers are safely protected; there is no change to the taste of products that are packaged in glass. And once glass containers are used, they can be recycled, resulting in significant environmental benefits and energy savings. But despite all the good qualities of glass packaging, glass recycling is struggling. As glass recycling is analyzed, several communities with curbside recycling programs have recently dropped glass from the list of acceptable items. So, what’s the problem with glass? Read Will Flowers article at Waste 360 to find out… To combat the bad rap glass is getting in the recycling business, the Glass Packaging Institute is providing funds to help clean the material at MRFs to allow for better price recovery and encourage residents to continue re-use efforts. Find out about their efforts in North Carolina to show that glass is an environmentally friendly product that belongs in the recycle bin. Green Communities SpotlightHousehold Hazardous Waste Disposal Program(Green Communities Measure #58) Hazardous household waste can cause serious issues to the environment if it is not disposed of properly. Items such as in paints, cleaners, oils, single-use batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt, etc.) and pesticides cannot be tossed in the trash or recycling with typical household waste. The City of Dunwoody has worked to ensure the proper disposal of household hazardous waste through the hosting of biannual Household Hazardous Waste Recycling events. These events accepted aerosols, adhesives, resins, and epoxies, mercury debris/articles/devices, lawn care products, automotive products, fluorescent bulbs, pharmaceuticals, photo chemicals, hobby and artist supplies, paint and paint related products, cleaners and swimming pool chemicals, poisons (rat, rodent, and insect repellents) and pesticides. The city also hosts separate electronics and paint recycling events. Make it PersonalReduce Your Landfill ImpactReduce packaging waste – buying things in bulk or large quantities rather than single servings uses less packaging and saves you money. Buy products made from recycled materials – buying recycled products saves vital natural resources and helps stimulate economic growth through environmentally preferable technologies. Get in the habit of buying reusable products – using products like reusable lunch containers can significantly reduce waste. Community ConnectionLive a Charmed Life
CHaRM stands for The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. It is a permanent drop-off facility that aims to improve environmental health by encouraging reuse and diverting thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste, bulky trash and other hard to recycle items from Metro-Atlanta landfills and water systems. CHaRM, located in the City of Atlanta, provides many benefits, such as:
Sustainability News ClipsGreen News from Near and FarAtlanta May Create Citizens' Commission to Promote Safe Walking, Bicycling Networks Atlanta Develops Citywide Green Infrastructure Action Plan The Nature Conservancy and Trees Atlanta Launch "If Trees Could Sing" Program on Atlanta BeltLine Decatur Considers Other Options for Glass Recycling Rockdale Commission Chairman Sees Bright Future Ahead for Rockdale County Dr. Pepper Asks if It Can Be Recycler Too A Zero Waste Community is Not Built by Government Alone Cities Create Their Own, Greener Transit Apps Bike Share Extends Reach of Public Transportation in 65 US Cities The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2015 Want Solar Panels on Your Roof? Here's What You Need to Know |
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The Green Matters e-newsletter is designed to give you a glimpse of important sustainability initiatives happening around the metro Atlanta region and beyond. Whether it's the latest research, new educational offerings, environmental stewardship efforts or potential funding opportunities, this e-newsletter will help you stay abreast of what's happening in this important subject area. |
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