WWRA accepting glass at special slots in drop-off bins

Photo by Shawn Personke. Reggie the Recycling Racoon and a glass bottle.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shawn Personke for the information and photo in this story.)

Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority, (WWRA) is recycling glass again.

However, glass can only be recycled at the drop off bin sites located throughout each of the WWRA communities.

Many City of Chelsea residents who take advantage of the curbside pick-up service have asked why glass cannot be picked up with their other recyclables.

Jason Maciejewski, WWRA chairman, says it’s a matter of process.

“Glass that comes in with the single stream curbside pick-up ends up getting broken and mixed in with the other materials,” he says, adding “That means it can’t be separated and sorted into the glass collection area at our Werkner Road facility.”

Maciejewski explains that the bins at the drop-off sites have slots for both colored and clear glass. As always, empty and rinsed recyclable materials are required.

The glass picked up from the drop off bin sites is already sorted, so it can be transferred directly to the vendor pick up, he says.

WWRA has launched a new video, “Recycling Your Glass,” to help spread the word, which is available on the WWRA website and Facebook page.

As a bit of history, the WWRA accepted glass for many years. But when the market for glass evaporated, collection of glass was dropped. About a year ago, WWRA secured a vendor that would buy glass.

Local recycling is a process of collecting glass from residents and processing the materials, says Maciejewski. Then it’s sold to a vendor that can either manufacture a new product from the recycled goods or re-sell to another company.

Maciejewski says, “The secondary markets for all of our materials ebbs and flows, based on supply, demand, and other economic fluctuations. We’re glad that we were able to find another vendor to take our glass.”

A map of drop off bin sites locations can be found at the WWRA website, but many people use the bin site located across from the Chelsea Fairgrounds on Old Manchester Road and the bins at the Werkner Road facility.

Other sites include: