Who knew that picking up a stray bit of litter and throwing it into a nearby dumpster could have a dramatic impact on recycling in Marion, and possibly the whole state?
When Angela Carbetta, director of Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention (MCR&P) spied the litter, scooped it up and opened the lid of the local tavern’s dumpster, “I was absolutely mortified! There were tons of broken glass in there…glass that could be ─ no, should be, recycled,” she thought.
And an idea started to click.
MCR&P is part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. Carbetta knew the state agency was focusing on “target materials” like glass in an ongoing effort to not only increase recycling, but also to increase jobs.
Through their Recycle, Ohio! program, the division develops model recycling programs designed to expand existing recycling initiatives throughout Ohio, and establish new ones. Through these initiatives it encourages Ohioans to reduce waste, recycle materials and buy recycled-content products.
With glass, the idea is to increase the availability of the resource, and then work with the business community to increase the processing of and eventual use of the recycled material in the manufacturing of products such as fiberglass, windows, and even beer mugs. In the process, this creates jobs and in turn, strengthens our economy.
So after spying all of that glass in the dumpster, Carbetta set about applying for a grant from the ODNR. She wanted to create a program for the economical collection of glass from Marion’s taverns and restaurants. “After two tries, I got the grant. The ODNR knew this would be a difficult program to initiate, but they said if anyone could do it, I could. I guess a reputation for tenacity worked in my favor!” noted Carbetta.
But in order to make the grant work, she needed a local sponsor who would match 50% of the ODNR grant. Enter the Ohio Galvanizing Corporation.
Frank Bellamy, vice president of the local galvanizing company, was working on an initiative of his own. “Marion has been very good to Ohio Galvanizing, and we were looking for ways to give back to the community. Our team has been focused on finding ways for the company to promote civic pride through an initiative we’ve labeled “Galvanizing Marion: Igniting a Passion in Our Community,” said Bellamy.
The Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention glass recycling program was a perfect fit for the Ohio Galvanizing goal. “Here was a new and unique program, the first of its kind in Ohio. It’s good for the community, good for the environment and good for the economy. It’s a program all of Marion can take pride in. We saw the opportunity not only through the matching grant to be a co-sponsor, but also to put our resources behind branding the program and marketing it to the community,” said Bellamy.
Ohio Galvanizing, working with the marketing firm Badertscher Communications, created a name and logo for the program and presented it to Angela Carbetta, who gave it rave reviews. And the Glass Act Bar Bottle Recycling Program, a unique recycling effort by Marion’s taverns and restaurants, was born.
Through the Glass Act, a bar bottle recycling program created and organized by Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention, an estimated 1,000 tons of glass that used to go to landfills will now be recycled.
When asked about the complexity of organizing the Glass Act program, Carbetta remarked, “I’ll take a lot of ribbing when my friends find out that I had to visit all of the establishments to talk them into participating. It’s just one of the perks of my job,” she said with a smile. “As part of the program, Ohio Galvanizing provided the design for a special recognition plaque for all 24 taverns and restaurants currently signed on: Amvets Post 138, Army/Navy Garrison, Baires Deli, Blue Fusion, Buffalo Wild Wings, Circa, Club Polish, Cowboy’s Bar & Grill, El Campesino, Frosty Mug, Knights of Columbus, Infinity, Marion County Veteran Club, Midway Tavern, Moose Lodge, OK Café, Palace Theatre, Ralphie’s, Stag Bar, Time Out, Village Tavern, The Warehouse, Wild Bill’s and Whitey’s. Others wishing to participate are encouraged to call Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention at 740-223-4120.
Through the grant provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention, and a 50% match from Marion’s Ohio Galvanizing Corporation, Glass Act will allow for the purchase of special glass recycling containers for the exclusive use by these participating taverns and restaurants.
These establishments will fill the containers with their empty beer, wine and liquor bottles. Rumpke Recycling and Hamm’s Hauling will pick up the containers and provide hauling services to Sims Brothers, where the glass will be processed for recycling. These containers and dumpsters will all have a Glass Act decal, design provided by Ohio Galvanizing.
“This program wouldn’t be possible without the help and cooperation of our haulers, Hamm’s and Rumpke, and Sims Brothers” said Carbetta. “Glass is by far the heaviest waste in the waste stream, so the haulers are realizing cost avoidance by not paying the weight-based tipping fees at the dump. They are also providing many of the dumpsters that will be used in the project,” Carbetta added.
Sims Brothers is providing an alternative processing site for the glass, and Rumpke operates a remote glass recycling facility of their own. Both will process the glass and prepare it as a raw material for use by other companies.
“I can’t thank all of these companies enough,” said Carbetta, “especially Ohio Galvanizing. I have been working on fulfilling the requirements of the ODNR grant for over a year, and finding a matching grant co-sponsor was the game changer. Frank Bellamy and Ohio Galvanizing have contributed so much to making the program even better than I had envisioned. I’m sure the ODNR will be looking at our program with an eye toward expanding it throughout the state,” noted Carbetta.
Photo: An estimated 1,000 tons of glass that used to go to landfills will now be recycled through the Glass Act, a unique bar bottle recycling program created and organized by Angela Carbetta (L), director of Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention, and funded in part by matching grant sponsor Ohio Galvanizing Corporation, represented by Frank Bellamy (R), vice president.
