Dubuque Says Recycling Glass Isn’t “Green”

 It may go against common thought, but Dubuque says recycling glass really isn’t that good for the environment.

That’s why the city workers are not picking up glass for curbside recycling.

The city says new research shows the costs of recycling glass outweigh the benefits.

After the long holiday weekend, your recycling bin might be crammed full.

But if there’s glass in there, there it will stay.

Dubuque’s Paul Schultz said, “There is more expenditure of fossil fuel and everything through the process than it’s worth.”

Schultz says a lot of glass jars and bottles break during the trip to the recycling center. A lot of the broken glass ends up in the landfil anyway.

Schultz said, “we’re handling it many different times that by the time it gets shipped to the end, the environmental benefits are almost all gone.”

Plus, he says, it actually costs the city money to recycle glass.

Schultz said, “it would cost us 40 dollars per ton. Plus all of the cost of collecting it. ”

If you do put glass in your recycling bin, the city will put take all the other items out and put the glass back in the bin along with a note explaining what your options are.

Schultz says you can still take glass bottles to a store or redemption center.

He admits it would appear the like the city is not being earth friendly

Schultz said, “if we are going to say we are going to be green, we are going to be green even when it’s difficult to be understood.”

Schultz also says the new policy will save home-owners money. Without recycling glass Schultz says your utility bill will be 37 cents lower each month.

Schultz says the city makes about 600 dollars per ton to recycle plastics.