Fairfax City is redirecting residents to regional glass-only drop-off sites known as the "Purple Can Club," city staff said during a recorded community briefing.

City recycling staff said the change responds to global market challenges and high costs for processing mixed curbside glass. "Enter the Purple Can Club. Fairfax City and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions have joined forces to tackle this issue," a city recycling representative said.

The speaker described how the purple containers work and what residents should — and should not — place inside them. Clean, empty and dry glass bottles and jars of any color, shape or size are accepted; lids and labels do not need to be removed. The official emphasized that glass must not be bagged and that ceramics, porcelain, Pyrex, mirrors, windows, light bulbs and lamps are excluded. The representative said the city’s container on Page Avenue, across from the post office, is one local option and noted more than two dozen purple cans are located across Northern Virginia.

City staff said glass from the purple cans is taken to a Fairfax County crushing facility and converted into sand and gravel for local construction and landscaping or sent to processors to be remade into glass. The city also said residents whose recycling is collected by city crews may still place glass in curbside bins "for now," but urged the purple cans to ensure recyclable glass is actually recycled.

The announcement included practical instructions and frequently asked questions rather than new ordinance language. No formal council action was presented at the briefing.

City staff directed listeners to the city website for locations and urged residents to check with private haulers if they do not have city-collected curbside recycling.