We’re at it again! MFCU is once again helping sponsor a glass drive in Missoula. We are partnering with REI and the Missoula Urban Demonstration (MUD) Project to bring the pulverizer to our fair city on April 19th and 20th as part of Missoula’s Earth Day Festivities. Just like our previous glass drive, we will be using this glass in the lobby floor of our new Russell Street Branch. Here are some “Dos and Don’ts” for recycling your glass:
- DO remove lids
- DO rinse bottles and jars
- DO remove labels
- DO sort by color (green, clear, brown and other)
- DON’T bring flat glass or window panes (they don’t go through the pulverizer and finishings on window panes cause weird chemical reactions when used with fly ash or cement)
- DON’T bring broken glass or bottles (it creates a hazard for the volunteers handling the glass—and for you!)
- DO bring your glass to Caras Park between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the 19th or 20th of April
- DO start saving up your glass right away
We will include a link to the full schedule of activities and events for the entire week of April 19-26 as soon as it becomes available. Happy recycling!
Thanks so much for repeating the glass drive, however, I think more publicity early on would be helpful. I missed the last one because I didn’t hear about it until it was too late to start saving the glass. Thanks for your “green” philosophy and support!
This is such a great idea!
How strict is the “remove labels” directive? Should we just do the best we can?
Carol,
For both removing labels and cleaning your containers, just do the best you can. If there are lots of labels left on, they can start to gum up the pulverizer machine. Also, the glues can react with the flyash, as can the enzymes in food left in the containers. You don’t need to run containers through a dishwasher or get them squeaky clean. Just give ‘em a good rinse to get out the majority of the chunks (or sugars for beverage containers) and pull off as much of the label as you can.
We still have to wash the pulverized glass, but the less that’s left in there, the fewer times it needs to be rinsed…which means we use less water.
See at the Glass Drive!
I have some questions regarding some of the economics behind this type of construction material, including: Is MFCU going to buy the crushed glass cullet? If so, how much is the crushed glass cullet going to cost per ton? Is the labor to run the pulverizer going to be volunteer?
Is there anywhere I can inquire to find these things out?
Thanks!
I was very disappointed to see signs saying “no more glass” when I arrived at the glass drive around 1:45 on Sunday. It was a waste of my time to collect the glass.