Glass doesn’t break down in landfills, but when diverted it can become a useful resource. This initiative collects glass from participating businesses and delivers it to the Blount County Recycling Center, where it’s pulverized and reused in local projects.
Diverting waste from the landfill is a continuous effort that can be addressed by creating more opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Keep Blount Beautiful’s Glass Waste Diversion Program was created to better utilize the glass waste generated at Maryville restaurants and bars that would otherwise be buried in the Blount County Landfill. Through this program, KBB provides the missing link between participating businesses and the Blount County Recycling Center by picking up glass waste and delivering it to the center for recycling.
About Blount County Glass Recycling- The Blount County Highway Department’s unique glass recycling program, spearheaded by Highway Superintendent Jeff Headrick, collects glass from Blount County residents and various other sources (including the Glass Waste Diversion Program!) and pulverizes the waste material into gravel-like pieces and a fine sand on-site. This byproduct is then stored to use as a substitute for aggregate, shoulder stone, pipe bedding, underlay, and more in local projects. Since collection started in September 2022, the Blount County Highway Department has diverted over a million pounds of glass waste from the Blount County Landfill. Access to this pulverized glass product allows the county to reduce the use of natural resources, save taxpayer money, and extend the life of the landfill.
Glass of any color is accepted at the Blount County Recycling Center in the blue bin labeled “Glass Only”. Please remove caps, lids, and corks. Laminated glass, pottery, ceramics, and lightbulbs are not accepted.
The Glass Waste Diversion Program is funded by the Arconic Foundation. In kind sponsors include Epic Nine Marketing. Program partners include Bella, Amici, Southland Books and Cafe/The Bird and the Book, RT Lodge, Downtown Maryville Alliance, and the Blount County Highway Department.
