The city of Houston has announced a partnership with the glass recycling company Strategic Materials Inc. (SMI), headquartered in the city, to handle glass generated by city residents. The agreement follows Waste Management’s decision earlier this year to remove glass from its citywide recyclables collection program.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says, “Since the removal of glass from the City’s single stream recycling program earlier this year, we have been working to find ways for residents to conveniently continue to recycle glass. I want to thank Strategic Materials for stepping up to plate to provide a workable solution.”
The move to partner up with Strategic Materials comes after Waste Management renegotiated its contract with the city in light of low prices for the recyclables. The renegotiations included removing glass from the recyclables collected by the company.
Initially, Strategic Materials will work with industry partners and local communities to cover the cost of glass recycling boxes at 10 locations throughout the city with the longer-term goal of expanding the program. At present Houston has nine drop-off locations for glass.
“We are fortunate to be supported by the mayor and the city in the pursuit to further support glass recycling,” says Strategic Materials CEO Denis Suggs. “We hope to identify additional partners within the community and our customer base to grow the recycling locations in the upcoming weeks and months. Our innate desire to preserve our environment and keep our city clean brings us together in a meaningful way to support glass recycling in Houston.”
The new drop-off locations sponsored by SMI and partners are in addition to the nine existing neighborhood depositories where residents are able to recycle glass and other items.