Gwinnett Offers Drop-Off Glass Recycling At Multiple Locations Across the County
Ten new locations have been added and made possible through funding from the EPD’s Recycling & Waste Diversion Grant Program.
The glass recycling program will provide residents a safe and sustainable opportunity to recycle glass
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County have teamed up with Ripple Glass to provide drop-off glass recycling programs at multiple locations across the County.
How does it benefit residents?
- After ending the County’s glass recycling program in 2018, we listened to residents who voiced their concern about having a way to recycle glass.
- This partnership with Ripple Glass/Strategic Materials gives the County an opportunity to restore this service again.
What are the benefits to the County?
- One primary benefit for the County is that this program will divert glass from the landfill and save precious landfill space.
- Instead of glass being tossed in trash bins, manufacturers can reuse it to make items like new glass containers and fiberglass insulation – all made in Georgia.
When, where, and what can residents drop glass off?
- Residents can bring their clean, empty glass containers to one of many locations across Gwinnett County.
- Acceptable glass items are all colors of food and beverage bottles, as well as jars.
- No need to remove labels.
- Broken glass is accepted.
- Please remove any non-aluminum lids and place in the trash. Aluminum lids can remain on and will also be recycled.
- A quick rinse to remove organics is appreciated.
- No ceramics like plates or mugs are accepted. No cardboard or plastic bags. No crystal or mirrored glass. No Pyrex or heat-resistant ovenware.
- Please drop off only glass bottles and jars. If you are looking to recycle something other than glass, visit https://gwinnettcb.org/recycling/.
Where will the glass go?
- Glass will be taken to Strategic Materials/Ripple Glass in College Park. Strategic Materials is the largest glass recycler in the United States. To learn more, visit www.smi.com.
Quick facts and figures from Strategic Materials, Inc.
- Glass takes 1,000,000 years to fully degrade in a landfill.
- Recycling glass helps reduce energy and carbon/ greenhouse gas emissions.
- Glass never wears out and can be recycled forever.
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours.
- Recycling glass takes 30 percent of the energy required to produce glass from raw materials.
- The Georgia glass market is very strong – about 1,200 people employed by five companies in eight locations in Georgia, which generate over $1B of products a year with recycled glass.
You can recycle your glass in Gwinnett County at the following locations:
- Bethesda Park – 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville
- Bogan Park – 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford
- Collins Hill Aquatic Center – 2200 Collins Hill Road, Lawrenceville
- Duncan Creek Park – 3700 Braselton Highway, Dacula
- Harbins Park (at baseball complex entrance) – 3200 New Hope Road, Dacula
- Lenora Park (at football field entrance) – 4500 Lenora Church Road
- Lucky Shoals Park – 4651 Britt Road, Norcross
- Mountain Park Aquatic Center – 1063 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain
- OneStop Norcross – 5030 Georgia Belle Court (24/7)
- Peachtree Ridge Park – 3170 Suwanee Creek Road, Suwanee
- Pinckneyville Park (near the baseball complex) – 4758 S Old Peachtree Road (24/7)
- Rabbit Hill Park (at football field entrance) – 401 Rabbit Hill Road, Dacula
- Snellville Recycling Center – 2531 Marigold Road
- Lawrenceville Public Works – 435 W Pike Street
- E.E. Robinson Park (baseball/softball complex entrance) -885 Level Creek Road.
