Lawrence County joins Mercer, Carry All Products in regional glass recycling MOU; supports DEP recycling grant application

Lawrence County commissioners voted Oct. 28 to enter a memorandum of understanding with Mercer County and Carry All Products to expand regional glass recycling and to support a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recycling performance grant application.

Recycling and solid-waste staff said glass had been removed from many curbside programs and that county residents had requested a permanent glass recycling option. The project described at the meeting includes two permanent drop-off sites in Lawrence County and two to three sites in Mercer County, construction of a grant-funded ‘‘glass bunker’’ in Hermitage to accumulate loads, and hauling to Carry All Products for processing and onward shipment to a glass-to-glass recycler.

Jerry from the county recycling office said centralized processing should lower costs: "When we would have the bin at the courthouse ... it's $900 a week versus, you know, if it takes 3 weeks to get full ... it's $250 for it." Commissioners approved Resolution 359 authorizing the MOU and Resolution 358 supporting the DEP recycling performance grant application.

Staff said container construction is underway and that once processed in Mount Pleasant, the material will be sent to Owens-Illinois for final glass-to-glass recycling. Officials said the grant and regional partnership should provide a more sustainable, lower-cost pathway for glass recycling in the two counties.