Note: This story was updated at 1:20 p.m.
Waste Connections of Tennessee has announced that beginning January 1, 2017, they will suspend glass recycling for their curbside pickup program in Oak Ridge in an effort to remain “dedicated to maintaining a healthy and strong recycling program for all residents,” a press release said.
“Markets for recyclable materials ebb and flow, and changes in glass markets have made this change in service necessary,” Doug McGill, municipal marketing manager for Waste Connections Inc., said in a recent letter to Oak Ridge officials. “By removing glass from curbside collection, we will preserve the overall integrity of our recycling program.”
A City of Oak Ridge press release said McGill went on to say that the processor of recyclables in Knoxville will stop accepting single-stream recycling glass after the first of the year, as will most processing companies across the country.
“The reason for this is two-fold,” McGill said. “Their equipment is being highly damaged by broken glass and co-mingled with colored glass, which has no market anymore. This is not a local issue—it is part of a national trend due to the regional nature of glass markets and related costs.”
It’s important to note that all other recyclable material will still be collected in the same way; there will be no additional changes to this service, the press release said. The change announced in the letter is strictly limited to glass.
“Mr. McGill is assuring customers that everyone at Waste Connections understands this will be more of an ongoing process than a defined cutoff,” the press release said. “He says they will work to make this a smooth transition.”
Residential notifications of the change are expected to begin in January and February.
“We appreciate the community’s cooperation with this update to the program,” the press release said.
Residents will still be able to drop off glass at the Convenience Center on Warehouse Road in east Oak Ridge. Only clear, green, and brown or amber glass is accepted.
For more information, you can contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656 or visit www.WasteConnectionsTN.com.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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