Glass Recycling Comes to Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY - The days of residents driving to Columbia or going to Target to recycle have come to an end. Monday marked the first day of a glass recycling program partnership between the city and Ripple Glass, a firm out of Kansas City.

Program director Lauren Hershey said the service comes as a relief to residents. "Both the city and residents wanted to do this. When Ripple approached us, it was just a matter of getting it done."

She estimated the program's cost at $5,000 dollars per year.

Residents place their glass in bright purple bins covered with many sponsors, like a NASCAR vehicle. The businesses and organizations paid for the bins and the standout paint color. Hershey said the city receives no annual money from the logos.

James Farris was one of the first to take advantage of the bins, dropping off empty wine bottles and mason jars Monday afternoon.

"I've been recycling for 15, 20 years," the Westminster professor said.

"I think [the program] is a good idea so that we can stop filling up the landfills as much as possible. That's why I'm here."

Farris mentioned he used to make trips to the recycling center in Columbia to drop off his glass, but then it became burdensome to make that trek.

The local option has him looking up about the future of recycling in his city.

"People would rather recycle if they had the opportunity, I know it."