How Can I Be Better At Recycling My Glass

Important Updates, Tips, and Notes From Ripple Glass

Cells for Cells: When someone asks themselves ‘How can I be better at recycling my GLASS’ what are 4 easy things anyone can do right now in 2023 to be better at recycling?

Ripple Glass: 1. Keep your plastic bags and plastic wrap out of your recycling bin. These items can only be recycled at the drop-off containers at your grocery stores, or you can put them in your trashcan.

2. Rinse or wipe out your recyclables, especially your plastics. The markets for plastic are very depressed right now, so the items need to be perfectly clean.

3. Purchase items that are easily recycled, and recycled locally. Glass and aluminum are great choices.

4. When you have an odd item, and you’re not sure if you can recycle it, check recyclespot.org for good local options! [Jason’s note: When your office needs to recycle old or broken cell phones request free shipping labels from Cells for Cells .

Cells for Cells: What is this partnership with End of Waste Foundation?

Ripple Glass: The End of Waste Foundation has origins in Europe, where they have structured producer responsibility programs. Meaning, those that produce the goods have to pay into the system that recycles the packaging from the goods. End of Waste is tackling this issue privately in the United States by connected producers, like wineries, breweries, and bottlers, to folks like us at Ripple that eventually recycle the packaging produced. Essentially, a producer will pay in to the system in exchange for transparent information about the glass they helped get recycled. Processors like Ripple, waste haulers and recycling collectors each get paid a fee for reporting out how much they have recycled. And, a portion of the funds are saved to help invest in areas where glass is not being recycled at all!

They are starting with glass, but hope to expand to other commodities. Glass recycling has economic challenges, so we’re thrilled they are stepping in to help support the recycling systems that handle it.

Cells for Cells: Can you explain how that benefits our community so that my 8 year old can understand and then be super psyched to recycle glass?

Ripple Glass: The End of Waste Foundation will be giving us money so that we can afford to keep more glass out of the landfill!

Cells for Cells: 200,000 tons of glass has NOT gone into our landfills because of Ripple Glass. How does that feel?

Ripple Glass: In one word: INCREDIBLE! We are approaching 300,000 tons of glass recycling and will likely hit that milestone in the next year. We could not do it without dedicated recyclers that bring their glass to the bin month after month. It truly takes a village.

Cells for Cells: What new things have you implemented at your office at Ripple Glass that is better for environment?

Ripple Glass: We have very, very little waste at our office, and what we do have is typically recyclable. I’m grateful that our team is conscious about their purchasing habits!

At our processing facility, we’ve been super focused on reducing our waste output over the past two years. Our process isn’t perfect, and it does reject items that aren’t glass. Historically, we’ve struggled getting those rejected items recycled because they were too dirty. Our Plant Manager has worked hard to find homes for our metal (ferrous and non-ferrous), cardboard, and re-use options for the glass that is too contaminated to process. Our waste has reduced by about 1/3^rd, and we’re still working on it!

Cells for Cells: What are you personally doing at home, today, to be better at recycling?

Ripple Glass: I’ve been focusing a ton on better recycling and also reduction of waste at the source!

I’ve started to compost food scraps from the kitchen, and it’s really putting a dent in my waste.

I’m also focusing on reduction of waste by better purchasing. I’m trying to avoid plastic altogether, especially low grade plastic like clamshell containers that have a very low chance of being recycled. I am using reusable sandwich and storage bags that can be put in the dishwasher.

I purchase mostly in glass and aluminum, and purchasing whole fruits and vegetables to avoid excess plastic.

I have been using thredup.com and poshmark.com to both sell and buy used clothing, instead of new. When I need something, I check there first.

Cells for Cells: Who are your partners who are doing an excellent job recycling?

Ripple Glass: We have over 150 local businesses that have committed to recycling their glass in the past year. We are constantly amazed by the support that we’ve received and how invested these businesses are in recycling.

We also recycle glass for over 100 communities throughout the Midwest. It’s difficult to pinpoint just one community to provide a shout out to, but the City of Omaha is very deserving. They have expanded their drop off locations for glass, providing much more convenient options for residents. As a result, glass recycling is increasing double digits year over year!

Cells for Cells: What area / what purple bin is always full – which community is awesome at recycling?

Ripple Glass: Prairie Village, Brookside, Parkville and South OP keep their bins incredibly full. The support from those communities has been incredible!

Cells for Cells: What area / what purple bin needs some help and encouragement to get filled up?

Ripple Glass: Honestly, none. I think all of our bins are performing as expected based on their location and demographics! We are working on additional locations in high growth areas to be sure we accommodate the folks moving into new residential developments.

Cells for Cells: Outside of glass and your business partners, who can we call out for doing an excellent job for our environment?

Ripple Glass: We are incredibly excited by the work going on with composting here in Kansas City. The infrastructure is in place, and folks like Missouri Organic, Compost Collective and KC Can Compost are making it happen. Food waste is an enormous portion of our trash going to landfill, and burying it there is such a waste. We need that food and yard waste going back into our soil.

Cells for Cells: Last words of encouragement for someone who wants to take care of our planet…

Ripple Glass: It’s overwhelming to do everything at once. We all know that we need to waste less, and consume less. But, I would encourage you to take one small step at a time. Start recycling at home. Then, start paying attention to what you have to put in the trash. Can you avoid purchasing those items? This will lead you to better purchasing habits, or seeking out alternatives, like composting at home, or having Compost Collective pick your food waste up.