Recycling Center crunches more glass
Stoyanova, Slavina
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News
The fledgling glass recycling program at the Recycling Center finally is coming into its own.
"Right now we get 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of glass per day," Recycling Center coordinator Howard Worcester said.
Although the amount of recycled glass continues to grow on a daily basis, when the program began in 2003, the center's employees had to work to advertise its existence, he said.
"When we first started [recycling glass], we were not getting very much because I think people were used to throwing it away," Worcester said.
The Kirksville Curbside Recycling Program, managed by Macon-based Veolia Environmental Services, stopped accepting glass, according to the City of Kirksville Web site. The Web site still advises residents to "dispose of glass with regular household trash," but also includes information about dropping off glass at the Truman Recycling Center in the Delaney-Baldwin Complex on the corner of Franklin and LaHarpe streets.
Worcester said the Curbside Recycling Program doesn't have the means to recycle glass, but for the last five years, the University has. After Veolia discontinued its program, the Recycling Center saw a noticeable increase in its glass items.
"People are really thankful that they don't have to throw it in the landfill," Worcester said.
He said that other than the University's center, the closest facility capable of recycling glass is in Columbia, Mo., - the city features curbside pickup for glass and other items.
Worcester said Kirksville residents appreciate having a closer glass recycling center and that about half of the people who recycle glass are students. But he said the Recycling Center would like to do more.
"For now the Recycling Center is doing what they can, but if there was more money, there would be a bigger building and more equipment and more full-time help," Worcester said.
Ralph Cupelli, assistant to the University provost, said he has been recycling for the past two decades.
"Right now we get 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of glass per day," Recycling Center coordinator Howard Worcester said.
Although the amount of recycled glass continues to grow on a daily basis, when the program began in 2003, the center's employees had to work to advertise its existence, he said.
"When we first started [recycling glass], we were not getting very much because I think people were used to throwing it away," Worcester said.
The Kirksville Curbside Recycling Program, managed by Macon-based Veolia Environmental Services, stopped accepting glass, according to the City of Kirksville Web site. The Web site still advises residents to "dispose of glass with regular household trash," but also includes information about dropping off glass at the Truman Recycling Center in the Delaney-Baldwin Complex on the corner of Franklin and LaHarpe streets.
Worcester said the Curbside Recycling Program doesn't have the means to recycle glass, but for the last five years, the University has. After Veolia discontinued its program, the Recycling Center saw a noticeable increase in its glass items.
"People are really thankful that they don't have to throw it in the landfill," Worcester said.
He said that other than the University's center, the closest facility capable of recycling glass is in Columbia, Mo., - the city features curbside pickup for glass and other items.
Worcester said Kirksville residents appreciate having a closer glass recycling center and that about half of the people who recycle glass are students. But he said the Recycling Center would like to do more.
"For now the Recycling Center is doing what they can, but if there was more money, there would be a bigger building and more equipment and more full-time help," Worcester said.
Ralph Cupelli, assistant to the University provost, said he has been recycling for the past two decades.
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