Idaho Falls now has glass recycling
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IDAHO FALLS – A new recycling service has come to Idaho Falls. The city and Momentum Recycling, a recycling service based in Salt Lake City, have teamed up to recycle glass.
“We have been looking into glass recycling for many years, but the current recycling centers in eastern Idaho do not offer the recycling of glass, so there was not a facility available to take the glass.” said Kerry Hammon, the city’s public information officer.
On Tuesday, 13 existing recycling sites throughout Idaho Falls received the new blue recycling containers.
Recyclable glass items include bottles of all sizes and colors, food containers and plate glass windows. Glass objects such as mirrors, ceramic/porcelain and light bulbs cannot be recycled.
The glass is hauled to the concrete pad on Hemmert Avenue by the Sanitation Division and will later be picked up by a trailer from the facility in Salt Lake. The glass is taken back to the facility in Utah with no charge to the city. The glass taken is recycled into high-quality fiberglass.
According to the Idaho Falls website the city’s investment is $35,000 for the containers, a concrete collection pad and printing of instructional stickers. The estimate for the operational cost, dependent upon program participation, is approximately $1,550 to $2,000 per month. This includes the employee time, equipment and fuel associated with in-town collection.
Momentum Recycling is one of the closest recycling facilities to Idaho Falls. The company says its facility maximizes the diversion of glass from the landfill, helps make recycling less complicated and assures the glass is recycled in high-quality products.
In addition to recycling glass, the City of Idaho Falls recycles cardboard, plastic and paper. The city also takes measures to encourage xeriscaping, water conservation, and proper storm water drainage.