Page 9 - TNPW Mar-Apr 2018

take some time for more municipalities to
get on board with glass recycling.
To help spark new markets in the
state, the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation’s Divison
of Solid Waste Management has been
awarding grants with waste reduction
in mind. Seth McCormick from Solid
Waste Management, who attended the
Honky Tonk Glass Bottle program event,
said, “The Honky Tonk Glass Bottle
Recycling program is the first of its kind aggregate for construction projects. If
in Tennessee and a great step forward
in addressing the glass issues in the
state. The addition of this new program
demonstrates their leadership, dedication, construction projects, such as pothole
and foresight to increasing access and
participation on their own and being on
the forefront of materials management in
the state. The Department fully supports
these kinds of efforts and looks forward
to Metro Nashville’s future as they embark are produced in part by using recycled
on zero waste.”
With the adoption of the 2015-2025
Solid Waste and Materials Management
Plan by Solid Waste Management, a more
focused effort has been implemented
to increase waste reduction efforts.
McCormick went on to say, “As part of
that plan we have focused our funding
to increase access and participation to
the citizens of Tennessee. As we play a
part statewide, local communities like
Metro Nashville have stepped up to the
plate to provide increased services to
their residents and tackle hard-to-recycle
commodities.”
Markets are slowly developing for
recycled glass and research has been
pouring in to find new end markets
for glass. A simple idea that is being
considered is using crushed glass as an
a municipality were able to crush their
own glass they would be able to utilize
the glass as an aggregate for many of their
repair, concrete aggregate, and decorative
mulch replacement for landscaping. A
more energy intensive option would be to
recycle glass back into jars and bottles. The to promoting the success of its efforts. The
majority of jars and bottles made today
glass. Tile manufacturers are able to use
glass in the production of certain types
of tile as well. Several tile manufacturers
reside within the state and the potential
to use more glass in their products exists.
As always, the cost to process, transport,
and use glass in manufacturing can be a
limiting factor.
Although glass recycling can be difficult,
markets are developing. Initiatives like
the Honky Tonk Glass Bottle Recycling
program are great for getting the word
out and assisting with developing markets
within the state. As more municipalities see
the need to divert glass from landfills, the
concept of recycling glass into sustainable
products will become less foreign and
easier to manage. The adoption of the
2015-2025 Solid Waste and Materials
Management Plan has been helpful in
the progression of waste reduction and
developing new markets for hard to recycle
commodities.
Assistant Director, Division of
Sustainability for the Department of
General Services Laurel Creech said, “We
are excited about the new Honky Tonk
Glass Recycling program and look forward
program launches glass recycling in an area
of our city that uses the most glass and will
catalyze glass recycling across Nashville.
In addition, the program will educate our
citizens and visitors about the importance
of recycling and how to reduce waste from
our landfill.”
Next time you visit the Music City be
sure to visit one of the Lower Broadway
Honky Tonks and support Nashville’s new
initiative by recycling your glass bottles.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 9