Glass recycling test in Fort Smith off to a slow start

Glass recycling in Fort Smith is not getting off to the fast start city administration hoped. The city’s sanitation department has added only 10 customers since the onset of the program for a total of 62 enrolled in the program.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors in May approved a glass recycling program for Fort Smith residents who want it for a $7 per month charge. The sanitation department received funding from the Sebastian County Regional Solid Waste Management District (SCRSWMD) for the purchase of 110 specialized recycling carts, said Nicole Riley, the city’s solid waste services director.

The program, which began July 1, operates with the intent of evaluating community interest and the feasibility of glass recycling under operational capacities, using existing staff, vehicles, and trailers, Riley said. No initial program revenues are identified and anticipated due to low material value – about 1 cent per pound – of recycled glass, Riley said.

Riley said the program would reduce landfill waste, conserve natural resources, and lower energy consumption in new glass production. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity, she said.

Participation in the program is completely voluntary with residents signing up for the program. Each participating resident is provided with a 100-liter recycling cart with a purple lid clearly labeled “Glass Only.”

“The program has been a slow rollout. As we gathered information to determine whether a pilot program would be feasible, we created two surveys. We had a great response to the surveys and to the $7 + tax monthly charge. We thought we were going to be short carts we had such great interest,” Riley said. “However, when it came down to contacting those interested, more than half seemed to have changed their minds. We are hopeful that there will continue to be growth.”

The city only implemented glass recycling as a six-month pilot program to determine long term feasibility.

“If we don’t get enough participation, it would not remain cost effective to continue. Source separated glass recycling is needed, as glass is one of those products that does not break down in the landfill and the material can be recycled indefinitely. We’d love to see this succeed,” Riley said.

There are 110 available glass recycling carts. The city has collected a total of 960 pounds of glass from 24 residents since the program started, Riley said.

The department asks that when carts are about two-thirds filled, customers call sanitation or place a request on the glass recycling website. Then customers are asked to put the container outside by 7 a.m. the next Wednesday.

The only glass that should go in the carts are clear and colored glass bottles and jars. Jars and bottles should be empty, clean and dry. Labels can remain attached to the class. Please remove any corks, caps or lids. Other glass, ceramics and pottery are not accepted. Items not accepted include plates, cups, flowerpots, mugs, glasses, window panes, broken glass or baking dishes, according to the city.

Residents can still sign up for the program and request a cart, she said. To do so, contact Riley at (479) 784-2350 (ext 3) or email at [email protected].