The Glass Recycling Foundation (GRF) awarded USD 85,000 in grants supporting three pilot projects that recovered a combined two million glass beer bottles in 2021. The non-profit organization, which focuses on raising and providing funds for targeted assistance to the U.S. glass recycling supply chain, released a report of the foundation’s 2021 accomplishments.
“We were excited to have the opportunity to partner on bar and restaurant pilots in Chicago, Columbus and Phoenix and hope to scale these efforts,” said Scott DeFife, president of the GRF and of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI). “We know that U.S. consumers want to recycle glass, but some communities struggle – that is where the GRF works to provide matching grants to help fill in glass recycling gaps. We look forward to increasing glass recovery in 2022 and beyond.”
Glass recycling grants in 2021 supported partnership efforts in a community glass-only drop off program in Erie County, Pennsylvania as well as commercial glass collection programs in Chicago, Illinois and Phoenix, Arizona. The 2021 GRF Impact report can be found the foundation’s website.
Activated in 2019, GRF’s first grants kicked off in 2021 after delays due to the pandemic. The GRF has worked in conjunction with the Glass Recycling Coalition (GRC) for technical advisory support. Through research, education and industry engagement, the GRC is a mission-centric organization dedicated to breaking down barriers in order to keep glass in the recycling stream, meet and grow end-market demand, and build awareness of the benefits of glass recycling.
Most recently, America’s leading brewer, Anheuser-Busch announced that it has joined the GRC to help improve glass recycling in the beverage industry.
The move aligns with the brewer’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and goal for 100 percent of their product to be packaged in material that is returnable or made from majority recycled content by 2025. By working with the coalition, Anheuser-Busch hopes to drive glass collection through infrastructure investments and increased public awareness to help reduce GHG emissions and increase the amount of recycled content used in its packaging.
In addition, Shannon Griesser, director of glass sustainability and procurement at Anheuser-Busch, has been appointed to the Glass Recycling Foundation board.
“I am honoured to be selected to join the Glass Recycling Foundation’s board, an organization that recognizes the need for funding projects, large and small, that address complexities in the glass recycling industry and help recover glass in regions throughout the country,” said Griesser.
“We see the Glass Recycling Coalition’s efforts as a unique opportunity to partner with like-minded companies and organizations that are committed to improving glass recycling in the communities where we live, work, and play,” said John Rogers, Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer at Anheuser-Busch. “We are looking forward to working alongside the coalition and Glass Recycling Foundation to bring new sustainability and recycling solutions to market and to empower our consumers nationwide to participate in local recycling efforts.”