Save household glass for big recycle effort on Earth Day

Recycling advocates are asking Gallatin County residents to save their household glass for a massive glass-recycling effort on Earth Day in April.
The Gallatin Zero Waste Coalition’s “Save the Glass” event will take place at Bogert Park on Saturday, April 24, as part of the Gallatin Earth Celebration Clean-up Day.

The city discontinued its glass-recycling program a few years ago, “because they couldn’t identify local applications for the recycled glass,” Ron Gompertz of GZWC wrote on the group’s Facebook page.

But other area governments, including the city of Livingston, still do glass recycling, Gompertz noted.

“The GZWC is trying to show the city of Bozeman and Gallatin County that there is broad support for glass recycling,” he wrote. “Two private recyclers, J&K and Triple R, still do pick up glass in Bozeman. They bring it over the hill to Livingston, paying $29 a ton dump fee. Livingston crushes the glass and I believe uses it for road projects.”

So GZWC wants individuals and businesses to bring glass to the Bogert Park event. In addition, it is asking supporters to “Adopt a Ton” through a tax-deductible donation.

“Only $29 pays for a ton of glass to be crushed,” Michelle Gantt wrote on the Facebook page. “By adopting a ton, you can help get a ton of glass recycled and reused.”

The Save the Glass event is jointly sponsored by the coalition, Full Circle Recyling and the Yellowstone Business Partnership.