Council voices interest in recycling glass with Kansas City firm

SIOUX CITY | City lawmakers asked staff Monday to report back in two weeks about where glass recycling bins would be placed by a Kansas City, … Read more

SIOUX CITY | The City Council directed city staff Monday to obtain more details on what it would cost to allow a Kansas City, Mo., firm to take over glass recycling for Sioux City.

Under the proposal from Ripple Glass Co., the company would place drop-off glass containers around the city. The city’s garbage and recyclables hauler, Gill Hauling, would pick up the glass and take it to a central location in Sioux City where Ripple trucks would pick it up.

“There’s going to be a cost of transportation for us to pick up the glass and man these sites,” said Leonard Gill, owner of Gill Hauling.

The cost is not yet known. Public Works Director Jade Dundas said the city’s contract with Gill Hauling would need to be amended to provide the glass pickup service. Depending on the expense, the cost could be passed on to residents in their monthly bills.

Donna Utter, Ripple Glass’ director of business development, said her company recycles glass from Kansas City, Le Mars, Iowa, and other communities in the Midwest. The company converts the glass into fiberglass insulation for Owens Corning, an international manufacturer, as well as into beer bottles for Kansas City brewers.

“Hy-Vee has been one of our best partners in Kansas City” in allowing Ripple recycle bins in their parking lots, Utter said. “I’d think that it would work here.”

Ripple doesn’t pay municipalities for the glass, nor charge for the recycling service. Utter said the company would help market the program in Sioux City and that Owens Corning donates money to cities’ Habitats for Humanity or house weatherization programs.

Sioux City lawmakers have been exploring options since Gill Hauling, which picks up recyclables from curbside bins, raised concerns about the decreasing value of glass and said it no longer wants to truck it to another company in Kansas City.

Gill has offered the service since 2006, and the City Council last month gave first-round approval to ending glass recycling. Two additional votes are required, with the next vote slated to take place Aug. 12. All other recyclables still would be accepted in the curbside recycle bins.

City officials have said they want people to cash in beer, wine and soda bottles, which have a 5-cent refund if purchased in Iowa, and are looking at ways to market that program. Residents can also take the glass to the Citizens Convenience Center, at 5800 28th St.

Utter said recycling glass makes environmental and economic sense.

“Every ton of recycled glass saves 2,200 pounds of raw materials,” she said.