Haulers to no longer accept glass for recycling
Many garbage haulers now refuse to pick up glass items in recycling bins.
“This is nationwide. It's not one hauler, it's most haulers, if not all haulers,” said Sheryl Kelly, an environmental specialist and recycling and farmland coordinator for Butler County.
In a recent interview, Kelly said the refusal of glass items is not new but has been slowly phasing its way into new trash collection contracts across the country.
“I don't know anyone (who's) taking glass right now,” she said.
Kelly said the current market for recyclables has dropped because China is no longer buying many contaminated items, and has generally cut back on bringing recyclables into the country.
“China has always been the biggest purchaser of recyclables,” Kelly said.
About a year ago, China changed its standards for which recyclable items it would accept, according to Kelly.
China's changes have prompted changes for municipal recycling programs everywhere.
This is an excerpt — find out how some municipalities are handling the change and more in Thursday's Butler Eagle.
