Renee: Some friends have noticed that glass is no longer listed among the items to be recycled in grocery store bins. The friends say that it costs too much to recycle glass and no one wants to do it. Is this true??
Dorothy
What do we do with glass bottles? I looked at Republic’s link for recycling and they specifically state ” No glass.” Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mimi
Dear Dorothy and Mimi,
Alas, glass IS still recyclable, both in Recycle Indianapolis Drop-Off containers and through Republic.
Glass has proven to be challenging in the past – there haven’t always been local buyers and since it’s heavy, it’s expensive and fuel-intensive to transport out of state. I have it on good authority, straight from the City and Republic, that glass is being recycled now.
I still stress seeking out products with as minimal packaging as possible. Glass is heavy to transport (read: uses more fuel) when it’s full and empty. Are there alternatives to the products you use that are packaged in glass? Beer cans instead of bottles. Wine boxes instead of bottles. Canned sauces instead of jarred. Salsa in a tub instead of a jar.
Keep in mind that you can also reuse jars to buy bulk ingredients (things like spices, tea, flour, oats, beans, pasta, nuts, chocolate chips…) at natural food stores like Bloomingfood’s, Georgetown Market, Good Earth, Nature’s Pharm and Pogue’s Run Grocer (and other food co-ops throughout the state), which is way better than a cabinet full of plastic bags.
Piece out,
Renee
