Idaho Falls, ID – Thanks to a partnership between the City of Idaho Falls and Momentum Recycling, community members in Idaho Falls now have the ability to recycle glass. The new 3-yard blue containers will be delivered on Tuesday, Jan. 8 to the 13 existing recycling sites scattered throughout the city.

Public Works Director, Chris Fredericksen states, “Glass recycling is yet another step we are taking to protect and conserve valuable resources. We have received a lot of requests over the years for this service and are very pleased to announce that it is now available.”

Glass items that can be recycled include glass bottles of all sizes and colors, food containers and plate glass windows. Items that cannot be recycled include mirrors, ceramic/porcelain and light bulbs.

The Sanitation Division will haul the containers to a city facility on Hemmert Avenue where the glass will be dumped onto a newly constructed concrete pad. Momentum Recycling out of Salt Lake City, Utah – the closest glass recycling company to Idaho Falls whose business model aligned with the city’s needs – will send a tractor trailer to Idaho Falls to pick up the glass. The glass will then be transported back to Salt Lake City at no cost to the City of Idaho Falls.  Momentum Recycling will then recycle the glass into end products such as fiberglass.  

The initial investment to the City of Idaho Falls for glass recycling was $35,000 which included pouring and constructing the concrete collection pad, purchasing the thirteen containers, and printing instructional stickers for each of the containers. The operational cost will be dependent upon program participation and volume and includes employee time, equipment and fuel associated with in-town collection, estimated at approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per month. 

In addition to recycling, the city continues to take measures to educate and encourage water conservation, xeriscaping, and proper storm water drainage. Click here for more information and learn how to protect Idaho’s most valuable resources.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: (Agenda Item: Glass Recycling)

MOMENTUM RECYCLING: According to their website, in 2008 Momentum Recycling was founded with the goal of helping communities move towards zero waste. While this may seem like a daunting goal, we believe that together, by taking small but important steps, we can make great progress. Momentum Recycling is a full-service zero waste company offering comprehensive recycling collection services to organizations and residences along the Wasatch Front.

Momentum Recycling expanded its operations in 2012 to include processing and recycling of post-consumer glass. The company’s state-of-the-art glass processing facility makes glass recycling easier, maximizes the diversion of glass from the landfill, and ensures that glass is recycled into high-quality end products. As of July 2012, Momentum Recycling became the exclusive glass recycler for Salt Lake City. This includes operating the first curbside glass collections program in Utah, and the processing of all glass collected through the city’s various programs.

Media Note: For more information or to schedule an interview with city staff, contact Public Information Officer, Kerry Hammon.