Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) announced that glass collected in residential recycling bins is being recycled again because of rail system improvements and new commercial customers in the western U.S. Seattle鈥檚 glass recycling was paused in 2024 because of the closure of Ardagh Glass Packaging, which operated a bottle manufacturing plant in the SODO business district. The closure left Seattle and the region without a key business in the pipeline to accept recycled glass and make it into new bottles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful Seattle residents continued recycling their glass throughout this pause. Their commitment is paying off as glass is once again flowing to intended end markets in the recycling chain,鈥� said Andrew Lee, General Manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities. 鈥淲e also appreciate our business partners working with us to solve this complex challenge. The return to normal recycled glass movement helps Seattle make progress toward our goals of keeping valuable materials in circulation and out of landfill.鈥�
After glass is collected in Seattle and King County, it is sorted and cleaned at Republic Services鈥� Recycling Center in SODO. From there, it is sent to Sibelco, a global glass recycler which operates in Seattle and turns the material into clean cullet used in glassmaking. Sibelco 鈥� formerly known as Strategic Materials Inc. and which began operations in the region over 30 years ago 鈥� used to sell recycled cullet to Ardagh. When Ardagh closed in 2024, Sibelco stopped receiving glass from Republic鈥檚 Recycling Center and other regional recycling programs.
During this pause, Sibelco worked quickly to improve its rail transportation system and develop new customers in the western U.S. for the recycled glass products. This allows Sibelco to resume receiving glass from recycling programs in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to restore regional glass recycling and support Seattle鈥檚 sustainability goals. With new investments, we鈥檙e sustaining a critical recycling service for key partners, and we鈥檙e making it possible for glass to reach a broader network of manufacturers. This is good for the environment and the Seattle region,鈥� said Laura Hennemann, Director of Corporate Affairs for Sibelco.
鈥淪eattle residents kept recycling glass through the uncertainty 鈥� and that dedication matters,鈥� said Wendy Weiker, Sustainability and Community Outreach Manager for Republic Services. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to help ensure that clean, sorted glass is getting a second life.鈥澛燭he City of Seattle is now able to ensure that glass is being responsibly recycled 鈥� aligning with its goals of zero-waste and a 鈥渃ircular economy鈥� (which reduces waste through reusing, repurposing, and recycling).
Glass typically makes up 15鈥�20% of the residential recycling stream by weight and is one of the most recyclable materials. Recycling glass locally helps reduce energy use, conserve raw materials, lower emissions, and minimize landfill waste. Glass is infinitely recyclable. It is critical that Seatle protects that value in the recycling stream by processing it locally. Sibelco processes approximately 100,000 tons of glass annually at its Seattle facility. The company has shared its goals to make further investments for upgrades and expansion.
Also, the new Washington state Recycling Reform Act 鈥� which became law in May 鈥� is expected to increase statewide demand for glass recycling infrastructure. Sibelco鈥檚 SODO plant serves as a hub for Washington state鈥檚 post-consumer glass, meeting circularity goals while minimizing transportation costs and emissions.聽SPU encourages residents to continue recycling their glass and make sure recyclables placed in the blue bin are empty, clean, and dry.