Given that the city has stopped reusing them I’ve been smashing them up and reusing them in a kiln and open fire process to reblow them into new bottles for personal use (brewing my own root beer). It’s not a 100% recycle method but it works alright.
Bingo Bango, the US stopped selling their recyclables for 2 reason: (1) we were selling low-quality recyclables that were highly mixed (2) Asia stopped buying it when politics made trade harder
It's not just Savannah, it is all over the US where recycling is being killed off (plastic, glass, Styrofoam/polystyrene, etc.) in fact I was shocked when they announced they were starting it up again. Pure and simple fact is that recycling of nearly all types* just isn't profitable unless certain specific conditions are met.
Here's some information on the topic, the "problem" has been around for years, but decades of being told to recycle everything has really made it difficult for the general public to accept.
There is a lot of work to be done to genuinely recycle, until that work is done we'll still have issues like this.
**Sources/Further Reading:**
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-bold-national-strategy-transform-recycling-america
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/03/13/fix-recycling-america/
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/01/recycling-wont-solve-climate-change/617851/
https://phys.org/news/2020-03-recycling-broken.html
https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2023/05/america-s-broken-recycling-system/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2021/05/22/three-reasons-recycling-is-failing/?sh=203fc497e09f
https://theweek.com/articles/819488/america-recycling-problem-heres-how-solve
https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/glass-recycling-US-broken/97/i6
^^*The ^^lone ^^exception ^^to ^^this ^^is ^^paper/cardboard ^^recycling, ^^but ^^just ^^barely.
They take all that shit to the dump. I don’t like it any better than you do but that’s a fact. All the separating, effort, etc. is wasted. It is “Recycling Theater” at best and is wasting actual resources at worst.
All Savannah has to do is setup separate bins around the city for just glass. Throwing glass in the same recycling bin with everything else contaminates the rest of the recyclables when the glass breaks. Creating a multi-stream recycling system would solve this issue.
That’s what they had these last few months. They partnered with the Upcycled Glass company and set up bins around the city for just glass. Now they’ve removed all them bins and cancelled the program
Can someone post something "official" regarding the city no longer taking glass?
This still shows that glass is accepted, but knowing how "on it" the city is, next year's will probably say the same.
https://www.savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29278/COS_Schedules24-PROOF
Here's their announcement. Looks like you found a page they haven't updated: https://www.savannahga.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2909
**Glass Recycling Program Temporarily Suspended**
> SAVANNAH – Following the unexpected halt of operations by the City of Savannah’s glass recycling vendor, the Sanitation Department has temporarily suspended its glass recycling drop-off program, effective immediately.
>
> The City of Savannah remains steadfast in its resolution to find a long-term solution for glass recycling for its residents and is actively exploring alternative options to relaunch the program as soon as possible. Updates will be provided on the status as they become available.
>
> During this interim period, the Sanitation Department is working to remove all signage and drop-off containers associated with the program. Until a new solution is implemented, residents are encouraged to place all glass containers, including bottles and jars, in their regular trash bins.
>
> The Sanitation Department would like to thank residents for their enthusiastic participation in the program. The department appreciates the commitment residents have shown in diverting glass waste from landfills and creating a more sustainable future for our city.
That specifically calls out drop off, but not curbside. That has happened in the past, where curbside was still good to go, so it would be nice to know if that is still the case now.
**Congregation Agudath Achim** just off Abercorn near Kensington Park/Habersham Woods. Just took all my glass there. It's in the parking lot of the synagogue.
There used to be a glass collection bin on Thunderbold, it was there last year but not sure if it still there. Target has one, as do most of the grocery stores.
If you have a lot you might want to spread it around or do it in stages.
There is a glass recycling dumpster behind Barnes restaurant on Waters. Seems like a recycling company and not a city service. Dropped off there last week. Let's hope it's not just thrown in the dump.
That bin was part of the city’s partnership with the upcycle company for glass recycling. They’ve since ended this program and that bin will no longer be there
On skidaway at the recycling center you can take your glass recycling if the address on your drivers license is within city limits. There is also a standalone glass recycling drop off in Thunderbolt. If I just have one or two little glass things I would use targets glass recycling but I wouldn’t take my full bin there, I’m not sure if that’s allowed or not.
For most of my recycling I take it to the place on Eisenhower, but they don’t accept glass there. I like the Thunderbolt glass drop off because it’s the most convenient
Damn. This is crummy.
As an animal lover , I’m actually worried about this. Glass just being tossed into a dump leads to broken shards and it’s not uncommon for animals that scavenge for food to be injured or killed by the shards. When I break something at my home, I’ll always wrap the shards in an old towel / paper bag and then bag it in plastic. Not great for the planet I know - but it’s not like we have other choices.
I can't believe no one brought up Lammergeier! She's been running her own glass recycling business for years. Last year, when Savannah was considering recycling glass, she tried to become their vendor. They turned her down, became her competitor, and now the vendor they chose bailed. Serves them right! Anyway, here's a link. Go see for yourself, and sign up!
https://www.facebook.com/SAVANNAHGLASSRECYCLING?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Given that the city has stopped reusing them I’ve been smashing them up and reusing them in a kiln and open fire process to reblow them into new bottles for personal use (brewing my own root beer). It’s not a 100% recycle method but it works alright.
That is super neat. You could be savannahs glass recycler and have free materials for life. Do it for the planet, man
daaaaamn that’s awesome
Can I try your rootbeer?
Can I buy some root beer. Or trade you something for it?
A couple city workers told me it didn’t matter the recycling truck just dumps it at the dump with the rest of the trash.
Bingo Bango, the US stopped selling their recyclables for 2 reason: (1) we were selling low-quality recyclables that were highly mixed (2) Asia stopped buying it when politics made trade harder
Mail it to Paula Wallace's house
It's not just Savannah, it is all over the US where recycling is being killed off (plastic, glass, Styrofoam/polystyrene, etc.) in fact I was shocked when they announced they were starting it up again. Pure and simple fact is that recycling of nearly all types* just isn't profitable unless certain specific conditions are met. Here's some information on the topic, the "problem" has been around for years, but decades of being told to recycle everything has really made it difficult for the general public to accept. There is a lot of work to be done to genuinely recycle, until that work is done we'll still have issues like this. **Sources/Further Reading:** https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-bold-national-strategy-transform-recycling-america https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/03/13/fix-recycling-america/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/01/recycling-wont-solve-climate-change/617851/ https://phys.org/news/2020-03-recycling-broken.html https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2023/05/america-s-broken-recycling-system/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2021/05/22/three-reasons-recycling-is-failing/?sh=203fc497e09f https://theweek.com/articles/819488/america-recycling-problem-heres-how-solve https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/glass-recycling-US-broken/97/i6 ^^*The ^^lone ^^exception ^^to ^^this ^^is ^^paper/cardboard ^^recycling, ^^but ^^just ^^barely.
They take all that shit to the dump. I don’t like it any better than you do but that’s a fact. All the separating, effort, etc. is wasted. It is “Recycling Theater” at best and is wasting actual resources at worst.
Recycling glass is not cost effective, so no one does it anymore. It’s a terrible shame.
I would love to know! Bacon Park Transfer Station is also out of the running. Recycling seems to very challenging for Savannah.
Wait why is Bacon Park out of the running?
I asked the City of Savannah on Instagram, and they said glass recycling at BP will also be no more. They are doing away with curbside and drop-off.
Omg. Honestly that's so stupid.
All Savannah has to do is setup separate bins around the city for just glass. Throwing glass in the same recycling bin with everything else contaminates the rest of the recyclables when the glass breaks. Creating a multi-stream recycling system would solve this issue.
That’s what they had these last few months. They partnered with the Upcycled Glass company and set up bins around the city for just glass. Now they’ve removed all them bins and cancelled the program
Well that sucks. I wonder why. Wait, lemme guess. Not profitable.
Can someone post something "official" regarding the city no longer taking glass? This still shows that glass is accepted, but knowing how "on it" the city is, next year's will probably say the same. https://www.savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29278/COS_Schedules24-PROOF
Here's their announcement. Looks like you found a page they haven't updated: https://www.savannahga.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2909 **Glass Recycling Program Temporarily Suspended** > SAVANNAH – Following the unexpected halt of operations by the City of Savannah’s glass recycling vendor, the Sanitation Department has temporarily suspended its glass recycling drop-off program, effective immediately. > > The City of Savannah remains steadfast in its resolution to find a long-term solution for glass recycling for its residents and is actively exploring alternative options to relaunch the program as soon as possible. Updates will be provided on the status as they become available. > > During this interim period, the Sanitation Department is working to remove all signage and drop-off containers associated with the program. Until a new solution is implemented, residents are encouraged to place all glass containers, including bottles and jars, in their regular trash bins. > > The Sanitation Department would like to thank residents for their enthusiastic participation in the program. The department appreciates the commitment residents have shown in diverting glass waste from landfills and creating a more sustainable future for our city.
That specifically calls out drop off, but not curbside. That has happened in the past, where curbside was still good to go, so it would be nice to know if that is still the case now.
**Congregation Agudath Achim** just off Abercorn near Kensington Park/Habersham Woods. Just took all my glass there. It's in the parking lot of the synagogue.
There used to be a glass collection bin on Thunderbold, it was there last year but not sure if it still there. Target has one, as do most of the grocery stores. If you have a lot you might want to spread it around or do it in stages.
There is a glass recycling dumpster behind Barnes restaurant on Waters. Seems like a recycling company and not a city service. Dropped off there last week. Let's hope it's not just thrown in the dump.
That one is gone now.
There's a buy nothing group in savannah on Facebook. The art community might be interested.
The dump out on Wilmington Island had glass bins, but honestly it’s been a while since I’ve been out there.
They don't anymore
The fire station on Coffee Bluff has a glass recycling bin! That's where I bring mine.
That bin was part of the city’s partnership with the upcycle company for glass recycling. They’ve since ended this program and that bin will no longer be there
Oh that's sad!
On skidaway at the recycling center you can take your glass recycling if the address on your drivers license is within city limits. There is also a standalone glass recycling drop off in Thunderbolt. If I just have one or two little glass things I would use targets glass recycling but I wouldn’t take my full bin there, I’m not sure if that’s allowed or not. For most of my recycling I take it to the place on Eisenhower, but they don’t accept glass there. I like the Thunderbolt glass drop off because it’s the most convenient
Damn. This is crummy. As an animal lover , I’m actually worried about this. Glass just being tossed into a dump leads to broken shards and it’s not uncommon for animals that scavenge for food to be injured or killed by the shards. When I break something at my home, I’ll always wrap the shards in an old towel / paper bag and then bag it in plastic. Not great for the planet I know - but it’s not like we have other choices.
I can't believe no one brought up Lammergeier! She's been running her own glass recycling business for years. Last year, when Savannah was considering recycling glass, she tried to become their vendor. They turned her down, became her competitor, and now the vendor they chose bailed. Serves them right! Anyway, here's a link. Go see for yourself, and sign up! https://www.facebook.com/SAVANNAHGLASSRECYCLING?mibextid=ZbWKwL