Press Release: NRRA Releases Glass Recycling Story Map and Video

November 12, 2020

EPSOM, NH (November 12, 2020) – The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA), a recycling nonprofit that enables communities to manage their own recycling programs, has released an ArcGIS story map and video that provide a transparent look at glass recycling.  At a time when depressed recycling markets have many people wondering what happens with their recyclables, NRRA recognizes its 100 member communities in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts that are successfully recycling glass for over half a million residents. 

Through its unique recycling cooperative model, NRRA provides its municipal members with two options to recycle their glass bottles and jars.  First, communities can recycle glass into fiberglass insulation, which can be used to insulate homes and businesses.  Second, communities can crush glass into processed glass aggregate (PGA), which can be used in road and other infrastructure projects in the place of gravel and sand.   

“We are grateful for the dedication of our solid waste operators, who quickly adapted their operations to allow residents to continue to safely recycle during the pandemic,” said Reagan Bissonnette, NRRA Executive Director.  “Sharing this story map and video is a way to thank our solid waste operators and provide their residents with a transparent look at how their glass bottles and jars are being recycled into new products, saving both natural and financial resources for their communities.” 

The story map includes photos, videos, and interactive maps that show the one hundred participating communities and seven consolidation sites where glass is delivered.  Users can explore the maps to see which municipalities participate and where the nearest glass recycling site is to their community.  A new video in the story map explains how glass is crushed into processed glass aggregate and provides examples of how the product can be used locally by municipal public works departments and contractors.  

The story map and video can be viewed at https://www.nrrarecycles.org/glass-recycling-story-map.   

 

Crushed recycled glass, known as processed glass aggregate, can be used locally in road and other infrastructure projects in the place of gravel and sand.