Glass recycling coming to Birmingham metro in 2024

If all goes as planned, comprehensive glass recycling will be available throughout the Birmingham metro area in 2024, according to Franziska Trautmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Glass Half Full. 

Earlier this week, local recycling advocates—including representatives from the cities of Birmingham, Irondale and Mountain Brook, the Alabama Environmental Council, UAB and several local businesses—met at Sloss Furnaces to hear New Orleans-based Glass Half Full’s plans.

New Orleans glass recycling success story

Established in 2020, Glass Half Full has since recycled about 6 million pounds of glass. They have 10+ drop off locations as well as a residential and commercial pickup program. Presently, 15 people work for the company.

The recycled glass is repurposed for coastal restoration, disaster relief, construction sandblasting and landscaping. 

Glass recycling plans in the Magic City

Trautmann listed three ways people in Birmingham can participate and support the program.

• Join Glass Half Full’s Pickup Waiting List — Interested in residential or commercial pickup service? Place your name on the list!
• Drop-off site — If you are interested in having a drop-off site at your place of business, contact Glass Half Full
• FREE Glass Samples — Want to see the kinds of materials they are turning the glass into? Glass Half Full is giving out free samples at Sloss Furnaces. If you were to take home a sample, connect with Sloss at their front desk and they will take you to the demo/pickup site

Official: People want glass recycling

Participants at the gathering at Sloss Furnaces were excited about finally getting an opportunity to recycle glass once again.

There are so many people that feel terrible about throwing their glass away. People who are conscientious about recycling feel like they don’t have an outlet for  glass anymore. So this is awesome.

~Dana O. Hazen, Director of Planning, Building & Sustainability at the City of Mountain Brook

Presently, only Target stores recycle glass in the Birmingham area. Are you excited to see glass recycling coming to the region? Let us know what you think by tagging us on social media at @bhamnow