Page 18 - Mar-Apr24 Vol 41 No 7

BLOUNT COUNTY By Lisa Hood Skinner
First Year of Glass Recycling Mill:

Growth & Potential

In November 2022, Blount County
Highway Department’s operations center
formally opened its new glass recycling
mill in Maryville (after a few months of
soft opening).
Approximately 315,000 pounds of glass
later in early 2024, Jim Cox, operations
director for the highway department,
says the initiative is “going just great. This
is glass that did not go into our landfill.”
“Everyone is excited with our glass
program. We have even won the Recycle
Coalition award for the year for our glass
program and given multiple tours and
speaking events concerning it,” he said.
Some of this recognition comes from the
East Tennessee Development District and
the Tennessee County Highway Officials
Association.
The glass mill project had been
envisioned by his department for more
than six years, identified as the top
need in the Blount region (even chosen
over oft-mentioned potholes or paving
problems!)
Since its inception, the glass mill has
represented a major way to add years
to the local landfill’s lifespan. Cox said
this is because heavy glass accounts for
a major (and costly) part of a landfill’s
contents. As more glass is thrown away, a
landfill’s lifespan is shortened and inches
closer to its total capacity.
However, a glass recycling mill can
shortcut this dilemma. The county’s We’ll take it. I hate seeing litter on the who were stuck and could not get out
GP-IHD Andela Glass Pulverizer can side of the roads.” until we brought the glass/salt mixture
process 10 tons of glass in just an hour. That’s still his stance today. and spread it so they could get traction.”
The recycled glass comes out in different “We are still the only game in town The mix consistency is likely to
sizes and textures from fine sand to 3/8th willing (or anywhere near) to accept be additionally studied and possibly
inch gravel. and recycle glass,” he said. “We also are readjusted in the future as the
Last year as the department put out in the process of collecting from other community’s experience and input is
the word on its website and via other counties and entities in the area. We have gathered and recorded.
methods about the glass recycling efforts, three agencies already on board and are The recycling center is at 331 Levi
usage dramatically has increased. Since working on the fourth.” Street in Maryville next to the operations
the mill opened, Cox has welcomed “all The Maryville facility added glass center. Glass should be dropped in the
comers” both within and outside Blount fines to the salt mixture for traction blue dumpster in the parking area by the
County to bring their glass refuse to the this winter during the January snow recycling office. The glass items must be
facility, (regardless of origin). event. Cox said the department chose placed into a recycling bin labeled for
Last year he told TPW Magazine that ground glass of a powdery, 3-millimeter glass at the Blount County Recycling
his attitude is to “bring it on, bring it to thickness to go into the road mix, and Center, with no need for sorting bottles
us, even if you live outside our county. that “there were several first responders or ripping off labels.

18 TPW March/April 2024