Partnership to bring glass recycling to James City County while also helping charities

Glass recycling is coming to James City County thanks to a partnership between the county and Owens-Illinois that will also benefit local charities.

Kate Sipes, assistant director of economic development, said the program with O-I, a national company with a plant in Toano, will allow residents to drop off their glass to be recycled locally into new bottles.

Elizabeth Hupp, a community relations specialist with O-I Glass, told the board the company's vision is to be "the most innovative, sustainable and chosen supplier of glass."

She said the Glass for Good program directly benefits the communities O-I operates in by generating charitable donations for recycled glass. Under the program, glass will be collected at designated sites in James City County. It will be taken to the Toano plant where the weight of recycled glass is converted into a dollar amount. Money will be donated to charities, while the glass is cleaned, processed and recycled.

Sammy Holaschutz of O-I outlined how Glass for Good will form a sustainable partnership with the county and residents, via a video link to the April 27 Board of Supervisors meeting. He pointed out it would provide educational resources on recycling and help "debunk the myth that glass cannot be recycled."

Hupp said O-I has reached out to the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula to support need in the local community.

"United Ways tend to serve as a financial adviser of sorts. They know where your dollar will stretch the furthest and make the greatest impact because they are the ones on the ground assessing the communities in which they operate," Hupp said.

She said O-I hopes to partner with local schools to run recycling drives and other educational initiatives.

James City County will identify sites where people can drop off their glass for recycling. County vehicles will take the glass to the plant at Toano.

County administrator Scott Stevens said he is hopeful the program can begin in July.

"Economic development staff and general services staff have been talking about this project in some form or fashion with Owens-Illinois for quite some time … we will work with O-I to develop a marketing campaign," he said.

"The intent will be to have these dumpsters in our convenience center sites, so places that our residents currently are able to go. They will be glass-only dumpsters. When they are full, we will carry them to O-I, deposit the glass there. They will take it from there. We will bring the canister back. Then we’ll talk about other sites," Stevens said.

"I’m frustrated that the commonwealth doesn't do something on a larger scale," Supervisor Ruth Larson. "It's really neat that we are benefiting some organizations that could use additional funds."

"It can be very frustrating at times. I know there were issues that had to be resolved," said John McGlennon. "I’m glad you took your frustration and turned it into persistence to accomplish this objective."

"This is going to be an outstanding program for our community," said Michael Hipple, chairman of the board.

David Macaulay, [email protected]

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